Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog
If you own a vehicle, you know that auto insurance is a costly, yet necessary, expense. Though requirements vary from state to state, every state except New Hampshire requires some type of insurance coverage in order to legally operate a vehicle. In Rhode Island, motorists are required to carry liability auto insurance with minimum coverage of $25K per person ($50K per accident) for bodily injury, and $25K per accident for property damage. However, as a Rhode Island car accident lawyer for over 20 years, David Tapalian has seen enough people hit by uninsured drivers to know that not all drivers carry the compulsory auto insurance, or they have inadequate coverage. If you’ve had the misfortune to be involved in a car accident where the driver at fault has no insurance, or purchased the bare minimum, you’ve likely seen that most times this is insufficient to cover the damages involved in a serious auto accident.
Though a significant expense, the cost of auto insurance is one that a driver needs to responsibly account for when choosing to get behind the wheel; and a reprieve on insurance premiums shouldn’t be expected anytime soon either. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data last week showing auto insurance costs are rising at the fastest rate in the past 47 years. Car insurance costs for March were 22.2% higher than they were a year ago and increased 20.6% over February, resulting in the largest gain since 1976.
Reasons Car Insurance Rates Are Increasing
A multitude of factors contribute to rising premiums, but these current increases can primarily be attributed to a rise in motor vehicle accidents, the severity of injuries in these crashes, and geographical factors. Robert Sinclair, a spokesperson for AAA cited “the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities are up, and inflation has made the cost of repairs more expensive”. He noted that risky driving behavior like speeding, recklessly driving through intersections, lack of seat belt use, and intoxicated driver arrests were close to historic high numbers.
How Accidents Effect Auto Insurance Costs
When an insured person is involved in a serious car crash, correspondingly more extensive damages and bodily injuries result, and therefore higher expenditures for the insurance companies. For example, in a minor fender bender, the insurance company may only need to shell out enough money to cover the cost of minor repairs for the damaged vehicle. However, in a severe auto accident, the insurance company will not only pay for more complex property damages but may also need to cover the cost of victim’s hospital stays, medical bills, surgeries, physical therapy, and future needs. If multiple victims are involved, these costs can rise exponentially which any Rhode Island car accident attorney can easily attest to. Clearly, a serious collision is much more costly to the insurance company than a small fender bender! When the number of severe crashes outweighs the small crashes, costs correspondingly go up. These costs are then passed on to customers in the form of increased insurance premiums.
What Happens if I’m Hit by a Driver with No Car Insurance?
For those who have the misfortune to be hurt in a car accident caused by an uninsured motorist in Rhode Island, it can be very scary to find out the person responsible for your injuries made the negligent choice of failing to purchase auto insurance coverage. It can be equally distressing if you’ve been hurt by an underinsured motorist and find out their auto coverage is insufficient to cover your injuries and property damages. Where does that leave you?
As an innocent victim, you should not be left stranded because of someone else’s reckless actions. If the driver responsible for your accident is determined to be uninsured, or underinsured, there are a number of ways a Rhode Island car accident lawyer can help you. Attorney David Tapalian has helped clients seek compensation when they’ve been hurt by an uninsured, or under-insured, driver by filing an uninsured or under-insured motorist claim in Rhode Island. By exploring these options, David has helped countless clients receive money to cover the bodily injury and property damage they incurred when hit by a negligent motorist.
Call Tapalian Law if You’ve Been Hurt
To get help with your uninsured, or underinsured, motorist claim, contact an experienced Rhode Island car accident attorney at Tapalian Law. We will listen to the details of your situation and discuss what methods are best suited to get you maximum compensation for your losses. Attorney Tapalian and his skilled legal team are available 24/7 to answer your calls, questions, and concerns. We understand getting hurt unexpectedly in an accident is very stressful and you have a million questions. We offer a free consultation where our legal team will help you determine exactly what steps to take next. Contact us online for a free consultation or call 401-552-5000 to speak with a Rhode Island car accident lawyer today.