It’s hard enough getting your insurance claim paid when you can identify the person who hit you. Things get a lot harder when the person who hits you is driving a stolen car. Obviously, if the car doesn’t belong to them, they aren’t covered under the owner’s insurance policy.
So, what are you supposed to do about your injuries? You can try to file a claim against the vehicle owner’s policy. But the insurance company is going to deny your claim. The person driving the car had no right to do so. The insurance company isn’t going to want to pay out damages caused by a stranger.
You can file a claim under your own uninsured motorist’s clause in your insurance policy. The problem is, there are very low thresholds for this coverage. They usually make you pay a very high deductible. And, the limits are low. There is little chance it will cover all of your damages.
Your Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can help get coverage for your injuries. He can also help you pursue a claim against the actual person who caused the accident.
Most Car Thieves Don’t Stick Around Waiting for the Police
One thing Louisiana car accident lawyers warn their clients of is to always call the police immediately after a crash. This is because there’s no way to guarantee that the other driver will stick around long enough to talk to the police.
If the person driving the car was a criminal, he’s certainly not going to stick around and wait for the police. He won’t want to get arrested for stealing the car. He may drive off, or even run on foot. But one thing’s for sure – he isn’t going to stand around and wait to be arrested.
Whether he waits around or not, you’re still left with a problem. Who is going to pay for the expenses related to the accident? Just because the person driving the car stole it, doesn’t mean you won’t suffer injuries. These injuries are going to need to be treated.
How Will Your Medical Care Be Covered?
If you get hurt in your car accident, you’re going to need medical care. You won’t have the option of the other driver’s insurance covering your treatment. You’ll have to rely on your personal health insurance to take care of you.
If you don’t have your own insurance, you’ll have to rely on Medicaid or Medicare. Medicare is intended to cover care for the elderly. Medicaid offers health coverage for the indigent. You would need to qualify for one of these programs if you don’t have insurance.
Your attorney can still file a lawsuit against the person driving the car. However, you would only be able to go after his personal assets. Chances are, they won’t have any. People who steal cars don’t tend to be the kind of people who own property and have investment funds.
If you do manage to recover from the defendant, you’ll have to repay the company who paid for your care. They’ll hold a lien against your lawsuit. They’ll be the first people to be paid back.
Can the Vehicle Owner Be Held Responsible?
It’s very hard to prove that the vehicle owner was responsible for your accident. The only exception to this rule is if they gave the driver permission to drive their vehicle. For example, let’s say that the person driving the car was the owner’s teenage son. They had reported the car stolen, but it was later revealed that they gave their child permission to use the car.
In a situation like this, your car accident attorney in Virginia Beach can argue that the owners are responsible for your injuries. And you would have a strong case for recovery. Once it’s proven that the driver didn’t really steal the car, the owner’s insurance policy should be ordered to cover your claim.
Contact a Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in any sort of car accident, you should call a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer right away. He can help prove the person driving the car that hit you had permission to drive the vehicle. He can also make sure you have coverage for your injuries.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. You can bet the defendant will have a lawyer working for him and you should too.
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