Every single driver in Indiana should have a liability insurance policy on their vehicle. Insurance protects the rest of the public from the damage that a person can cause with their car. If someone smashes your vehicle because they merged without looking or lost control during inclement weather, you can likely file a claim against their insurance coverage.
The policy protecting the driver who caused the wreck will reimburse you for your losses so that the other driver doesn’t have to worry about you taking them to court. Sometimes, though, drivers don’t carry enough coverage, which could lead to issues for everyone affected by a collision.
You might find that there isn’t enough insurance coverage for your losses, especially if you drive a newer vehicle or suffer significant injuries. What coverage does Indiana require?
State minimums create a possible gap in coverage
Drivers can carry a liability policy and still leave other people with massive unpaid bills from a crash. The minimum coverage a driver can legally have in Indiana is $25,000 each of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. With only that amount in coverage, the other driver’s policy could leave you holding the proverbial bag to deal with significant losses.
Indiana also requires that your insurance company offer you uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If you didn’t decline that coverage in writing, you may be able to make a claim against your own policy for any vehicle repair/replacement costs or losses related to an injury that the other driver’s insurance didn’t cover.
If the other driver doesn’t have much coverage or if you didn’t buy uninsured and underinsured driver protection, you could have thousands of dollars in bills and lost wages that you have no way to pay.
When someone is at fault, they have legal and financial responsibility for a crash
If the police clearly reported that the other driver was the one who caused the wreck, then you can potentially take civil action against that driver. If you have documentation of financial expenses exceeding their insurance coverage, the Indiana civil courts will allow you to file a claim for those uncovered expenses.
Reviewing the policy of the other driver and your own insurance coverage can help you take the right steps after a serious car crash.
