You can hear the insurer’s marketing jingle in your head. You’re really hoping you’re in good hands with your Allstate auto insurance policy.
Have you ever looked at your potential recoverable damages in GA vehicle accident claim with Allstate? Your car insurance policy may not cover quite everything. Here’s a look at what damages the car insurance typically covers and what may not be included in a standard policy
Common Types of Economic Damages
Here’s a closer look at what economic damages a standard Allstate policy typically covers.
Medical Expenses
Almost all personal injury claims list medical costs as economic damage. This is usually true even in minor fender benders. Regardless of the accident’s severity, it’s always a good idea to get checked out by a healthcare provider. You may have internal injuries that can take several days before symptoms start appearing.
You can claim the cost of the medical checkup, along with any necessary treatment. This includes prescriptions, rehabilitation therapy, and even long-term care. You can also claim any follow-up checkups. Save all bills and receipts and get copies of your medical records. You’re going to need to submit these items with your personal injury claim.
Property Repair/Replacement Costs
Not every accident results in property damage. A slip-and-fall may only cause injuries. The same can also be true in a product liability claim. However, if your property is damaged in the accident, you should be able to list it as a loss.
The legal definition of property damage is fairly broad. Not only can it include vehicle damage, but also your personal property like laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Even purses can be covered in an accident claim if the item is damaged.
Sometimes, property damage is too extensive for repairs. You need to replace the damaged item. Replacement costs can also be listed in a personal injury claim but don’t expect to recover the item’s original value. The insurance company will factor in everyday wear and tear so your compensation may not cover all of the replacement costs.
For example, if you’re including vehicle replacement costs, the insurance company usually only pays out the listed Kelley Blue Book value.
Lost Current and Future Income
Like property damage, not all personal injury claims include lost current and future income. However, if your injuries are severe you may miss work. This also isn’t a great time to start missing paychecks. You probably have bills coming in stemming from the accident.
Your list of economic damages may be able to include lost current income. This can also apply if you’re unable to return to your previous position. If you’re forced to take a lower-paying job, your lost future income may be recoverable.
Pay stubs, tax returns, and a letter from your employer are usually enough to prove this economic damage. There can be an exception for Allstate clients. You can recover non-economic losses when your accident claim is against the other driver’s insurance provider.
When you’re filing a claim with your Allstate policy, your lost income is typically only recoverable if you’re carrying a full coverage policy. If you’re only meeting Georgia’s minimum auto insurance requirements, your Allstate policy probably isn’t going to pick up the tab.
Common Types of Non-Economic Damages
We mentioned earlier that non-economic damages are intangible. This can make it difficult to come up with their estimated value. If you’re not sure what qualifies as non-economic damage, the list can be extensive. Some common examples of non-economic losses include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Anxiety and depression
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of consortium
You may also be able to claim things like a permanent disability or physical impairment. Since you can refer to bills and receipts to come up with a monetary value, your personal injury lawyer will need to rely on other methods. You can use either the per diem or multiplier method to calculate the value of your non-economic damages. Both methods are widely accepted by insurance companies.
The per diem method looks at the number of days you experienced pain and suffering. The multiplier method assigns a number, usually between 1.5 and 5, to represent the severity of your injuries. A quick tip is to use both methods. This way, if the insurance adjuster denies your claim you’re ready with a counteroffer. This can help speed up negotiations and the time it takes to receive a settlement check.
Allstate does cover non-economic losses for clients with personal injury protection (PIP) through the insurer. Otherwise, you’ll need to file an accident claim against the other driver. While filing a personal injury claim with Allstate is extremely easy, what’s covered depends on your auto insurance policy.
