Is your car accident settlement enough to pay for your losses?

What do you do if you are involved in a car accident involving a motorist who has no insurance or does not have enough coverage to pay for your losses? Did you know you don't have to settle for less than you are owed? Continue reading to learn about your rights after an accident caused by someone else.

In Arizona, every vehicle on the road is required to have automobile insurance coverage. Unfortunately, some people choose not to buy coverage, believe they have coverage but don't or do not carry car insurance that is sufficient to pay for the damages they cause in accidents.

Minimum auto insurance coverage requirements in Arizona

Arizona has mandatory minimum coverage requirements for automobile insurance policies as follows:

• $15,000 for one injured person
• $30,000 for two or more injured people
• $10,000 for property damage

For example, Bob was in a motor vehicle accident caused by Sarah, and the total of his medical bills was $25,000. Sarah had only the minimum amount of insurance coverage at the time of the accident. While Sarah was clearly at fault, her insurance company will pay only $15,000 of Bob's medical bill. Additionally, if Bob's expensive car was totaled in the accident, Sarah's insurance would pay only up to $10,000 for damage to his vehicle.

Your insurance company may make up the difference

If the at-fault driver does not have insurance or that person's insurance company doesn't pay for all of your losses, you may file a claim for the balance from your auto insurance carrier. Your uninsured or underinsured motorist policy provision is for just this purpose. In the example above, Bob may seek the remaining $10,000 balance of his medical bills from his own insurance company.

However, your insurance company may be unwilling to pay you all you are owed.

A lawsuit may be necessary to get what you need

Insurance companies do not like to pay claims. They are in the business of making money, not spending it paying benefits to their customers or to those harmed by their customers. Carriers engage in many tactics designed to discourage accident victims from seeking more money, including:

• Denying claims
• Making low-ball settlements offers
• Negotiating in bad faith
• Delaying payments
• Repeatedly requesting additional information
• Failing to treat claimants fairly

If you believe you are not getting what you deserve after an accident, it is important to talk to a personal injury attorney before you agree to anything involving your claim. It doesn't cost you anything to find out about your options.