If you rent or borrow a vehicle and someone else causes an accident while using it, your own auto insurance will not cover any resulting damages or injuries unless they occur while driving on private property. If someone else has had an accident in your vehicle, our car accident lawyer Aurora IL is here to help. Contact Carlson Bier Associates today at 312-622-2900.
Driving a car is an important responsibility. You need to make sure that you understand the rules of the road, follow them and make sure that your car is in good working order. It’s also important to make sure you have enough insurance coverage if something goes wrong while driving and if you plan on lending your car to other drivers.
You are responsible for the traffic violations committed in your own car
If you lend your vehicle to someone else, you are still legally responsible for their actions. If the owner of a vehicle causes an accident while driving on a public road and gets pulled over, they can be charged with any traffic violations committed as well as having to pay any fines and legal fees.
If you lend your car to a driver who is not expressly excluded on your policy, your insurance will be the primary coverage that will apply if a crash occurs. The other driver’s insurance acts as secondary insurance.
The owner may also be sued by the other driver or their insurance company if they feel that they were at fault in some way. In addition, they could face having to pay for any damage done to their own car (the one lent out) or medical bills incurred by others involved in the accident. The car accident lawyer Aurora IL at Carlson Bier Associates has vast experience with car accidents and insurance law. We can help you with your claim if someone else has crashed your car.
Your insurance company will pay up to your coverage limits
The first thing to remember is that you should always be sure to have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy. If you don’t, then the insurance company will not pay for damages that are caused by an uninsured driver or hit-and-run driver.
If you do have uninsured motorist coverage, however, then they may pay up to your coverage limits if there were two cars involved in an accident and only one driver was at fault. They may also cover these costs if only one car was involved in the collision and both drivers were at fault.
Car Accident Lawyer Aurora IL | Carlson Bier Associates 
Car Accident Lawyer Aurora IL | Carlson Bier Associates 
Car Accident Lawyer Aurora IL | Carlson Bier Associates
In order to get all of these costs covered by their insurers’ policies, or sue them for additional compensation beyond what their policies provide, you must contact an attorney who handles cases like yours and ask him or her about whether suing might be possible under such circumstances. Our car accident lawyer Aurora IL has an in depth understanding of how insurance companies operate and what claims you can make.
Protect yourself if the other driver was uninsured and at fault
If the other driver was uninsured and at fault, you might have to take legal action against them. Depending on your state’s laws, you may be able to do one of the following:
- Hire a lawyer and sue the other driver for damages. You’ll need to show that they were negligent or reckless for causing the accident in which you were injured. They might try to argue that it wasn’t their fault—for example, that bad weather conditions led them into a skid—but if there is clear evidence supporting your claim (such as eyewitnesses), then most likely you will win in court.
- File a claim with your own auto insurance company (if applicable). The owner should gather as much information about the wreck as possible, which can be particularly tricky since they weren’t personally involved. They should get the accident report from the police and the contact information for everyone who was involved. It’s also a good idea to find out if there are witnesses and if anyone has photos of the damage. All of this information will help to prove who was at fault and will become evident if the matter goes to court.
At Carlson Bier Associates, our car accident lawyer Aurora IL will help you with your claim
In these situations, it’s important to remember that your insurance company will not pay beyond the insured amounts. You may need to take steps to protect yourself if the other driver was uninsured and at fault. The best way to do this is by carrying comprehensive coverage on your own car, which will help cover costs in case of an accident with an uninsured driver. If you need assistance with your claim contact our car accident lawyer Aurora IL today for a consultation.
