Bodily injuries might be a common and terrible outcome after a motor vehicle accident. People could suffer harm when a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another motor vehicle is struck by a car. Injuries could range from minor whiplash to severe spinal problems and even death. And then there are those “lucky incidents” where no one suffers any injuries. Drivers that cause injury-free accidents might not find themselves avoiding claims in California. Anyone liable for property damage could face a judgment forcing them to cover the losses.
Car crashes could cause property damage
Some accidents might be outright unavoidable, but many involve negligence. A distracted driver might not notice another vehicle until it’s too late to avoid a collision. While it is a good thing when no one gets hurt, it would be unfair to expect an innocent party to pay for damaged property.
Someone who invests $2,500 into a high-end electric bike will be more than unhappy with a driver who crashes into the bicycle while it is parked. Homeowners may look for compensation when someone crashes into a fence. And yes, other drivers would want a negligent vehicle owner to cover the costs of repairing body damage.
The negligent party may not need to cover losses personally. Auto insurance coverage may come into play after a collision.
Filing a claim for damaged property
Taking someone to court might be unnecessary if the negligent party carries liability insurance. The property damage provision in an auto liability coverage should pay for losses up the policy’s limits. If the coverage limit is $30,000 and the damage is $10,000, there’s more than enough insurance to cover the claim.
What happens when a negligent driver lacks insurance? The injured party could seek payments through their uninsured motorist coverage.
Things don’t always work out perfectly, though. An insurance company may attempt to “lowball” the settlement might try to avoid making payment altogether. If the insurance company tries to back out of its obligations, legal action could be unavoidable.