If you were involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you may have options for recovering financial compensation.
Knowing how to proceed can be difficult without help. If you rely on the guidance of our experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys, you may be able to recover fair compensation from the other driver by filing a car accident claim in Mankato.
Filing an Insurance Claim
Minnesota is one of only a few states with a no-fault insurance system. This means someone injured in a motor vehicle accident must first file a claim with their own insurance company, under their no-fault policy. This must be done regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
The benefit to this system is that claims are paid out quickly. The major downside is that insurance policies may not cover all of a crash victim’s damages. For example, a no-fault policy does not compensate an individual for pain and suffering, and there are weekly limits for your lost wages.
The maximum amount of compensation depends on your insurance policy’s terms, but your policy will generally cover at least the first $20,000 in crash-related medical expenses and $20,000 in crash-related economic damages, subject to certain limitations. Making a Mankato car crash claim can quickly become complicated without an experienced lawyer’s help.
Pursuing a Personal Injury Case
The good news for drivers injured in Mankato auto wrecks is that making a no-fault insurance claim may not be their only option for seeking compensation. It is possible for someone injured in a crash to bring a claim against the at-fault driver if they meet what is known as a “tort threshold.”
An individual who suffers at least $4,000 worth of reasonable medical expenses because of a car crash is allowed to file a personal injury claim. Whether the specific treatment or the cost is reasonable is a subjective question that is left to a judge or jury to decide. This also excludes the cost of diagnostic X-rays. A victim who is disabled for a minimum of 60 days or sustains a permanent injury or disfigurement because of a car crash may also be entitled to bring a personal injury claim.
If your accident case meets one of the above criteria, you may be entitled to recover the full amount of your lost wages and recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
Recovering Compensation After a Crash
The full range of potential compensation can vary in personal injury claims. Each case is unique, and the damages available to one plaintiff may not be available to another. Some of the most common types of compensation include:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Past and future medical costs
- Diminished future earning power
The attorneys at Maschka Personal Injury can answer questions about the types of damages that may be available when making a car collision claim in Mankato. You do not have to navigate this confusing system on your own. When you need an ally on your side, we are here to help.
Call Our Mankato Law Firm About Making a Car Crash Claim
If you were hurt in a crash, you may have multiple options for compensation, including filing a car accident claim in Mankato.
Determining the right course of action is not always easy. If you have questions about whether you can file a lawsuit after an auto wreck, call us today to schedule a meeting.
