St. Paul Personal Injury Lawyer Explains
When people get into a car accident, the first thing they’re often concerned about (beyond any injuries to themselves and their passengers) is whose fault the accident was. Because if it was the other person’s fault, then they can relax because someone else’s insurance company was on the hook for what happened. The problem is that sometimes determining who was at fault can be an extensive process that takes weeks or months to figure out, and you may have issues that need to be handled right now. Injuries that need treating, a car that needs repaired, lost wages from work… these are not things that can wait!
That’s why, in Minnesota, you shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a ruling about who was at fault in this accident. Instead, just make a claim to your own insurance company, and get your needs taken care of.
No Fault Accidents Save You From Fallout
Typically when you make a claim against your own insurance company it’s because you were deemed at-fault for an accident. While the company will cover the costs according to your policy, they’ll also raise your payment rates as a result of this. However, the thing that most people don’t know is that an insurance company can’t raise your rates if you weren’t at-fault for the accident. Being at-fault is a sign that you’re more likely to have future accidents, but simply being someone who had to make a claim is not a legal reason to increase your rates.
That’s why, in a no fault situation, you shouldn’t be afraid to call your insurance provider to make a claim.
Since it has not been determined that you were at-fault, your rates will not increase. More importantly, though, the no fault status means that you don’t have to hold off on making a claim for fear that it will cost you for doing so. So if you were injured, you can get treatment, and if your car was wrecked, you can get it sent away for repairs. If you lost time from work, you can seek compensation. You can do all of this, without losing sleep that your insurance policy is going to bite you because you found yourself in a situation where you needed to actually use it.
Best of all, if the other driver doesn’t have a policy, then you’re still in the clear.
No One Should Wait Because They Can’t Afford It
The philosophy behind this no fault law is that it cuts out the anxiety and the waiting that can lead to serious complications down the line. If someone has been injured in a car accident, they shouldn’t have to wait until a full investigation has been conducted, and blame has been assigned; they’re hurt now. And if they have insurance, this is exactly the situation they’ve been paying their premiums for all these years; they shouldn’t be punished for actually using it.
This law allows drivers to roll with the punches, and to make the claims they need in order to get their lives back on track when something comes their way.
Because if something happens, but you are forced to wait to make a claim because you can’t afford to see your rates go up, it only compounds issues. Injuries that could have been treated can become serious problems that never go away. A car that didn’t get fixed could mean you end up losing your job. Lost wages could mean missed mortgage or rent payments.
For more information about why you should file a claim with your own insurance provider, as well as your protections under the law, simply contact us today!