What it means to be a Defendant in a Personal Injury Case
If you cause an accident with injuries, you may find yourself as the defendant in a Personal Injury claim and ultimately a lawsuit. If you had no Bodily Injury coverage, this can be very unpleasant as your insurance carrier does not have to pay for an attorney to defend you and also does not have to pay any money towards what you may owe the victim of the accident.
Should the victim have Uninsured Motorist coverage, the victim’s insurance carrier may help their insured with their medical bills and possibly even a sum of money for pain and suffering. However, that UM carrier will then turn to you to reimburse them for any settlement they may pay their insured from their Uninsured Motorist coverage. Again, without BI, your insurance carrier will not have to pay for an attorney to defend you or any amount towards that reimbursement.
If you carried at least some Bodily Injury coverage, there is a very good chance that your insurance carrier will settle the Bodily Injury claim for you. Your insurance carrier will also pay for an attorney to defend you against any lawsuit filed. The best thing you can do is encourage your insurance carrier to protect your interests and settle the claim with the victim as soon as possible.
Be honest with your insurance company and your attorney as to what happened in the accident. If the accident was your fault, this will help them clear liability so they can move onto the next step, which is settling the claim. If your insurance carrier doesn’t seem to be acting in your best interest by settling the claim and securing a release from the defendant barring them from suing you, it may be time to hire a private attorney to advise you.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, call Personal Injury Attorney Chelsie M. Lamie at 727-501-3464 for a free consultation. You can also learn more about Attorney Lamie by visiting www.chelsielamie.com.