If I’m injured in an auto accident, will the insurance company pay for all my medical bills?

This is a question that auto liability lawyers in Indiana hear on a regular basis – and very often, by the time a client calls, they’ve already found the answer to be “no.” Not all auto insurance policies are created equal, and often there are policy limits and coverage gaps that can leave a driver – who may well have thought he/she was fully covered – without resources for costly medical bills, ongoing therapy, etc. With all the emphasis on cheap, state-minimum insurance these days, it’s easy to envision how more and more drivers who thought they were covered will be left out in the cold.

Indiana’s minimum liability limits are:

• Bodily Injury: $25,000 maximum per person/$50,000 maximum per accident
• Property Damage: $10,000 maximum

Indiana requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, allowing you to collect these damages from your own insurance company if the other driver in the accident isn’t sufficiently covered. This coverage can be waived but the waiver must be in writing. However, you should never waive this coverage. The worst drivers often have little or no insurance. There are special rules that apply to underinsured coverage. If you do not follow those rules, you could jeopardize the coverage.

Even more frustrating than coverage gaps is when a policy does appear to cover a particular claim, but profit-motivated insurance companies delay payment or deny the claim based on a technicality. This is something we see on a regular basis from some of the most well-known insurance companies.

If you have an insurance question following an accident or injury, Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC offers a free consultation to help review your coverage and avoid the insurance runaround.