In Montana Accident Cases, Identifying Insurance Coverage Is Key

When a Montana resident is injured in an accident, one of the most important priorities is determining whether the accident is covered by insurance. In many cases, more than one insurance policy will provide coverage, and it is important to identify all available policies that may provide a source of financial recovery.

Many accidents, including dog bites and slip and falls, will be covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. These policies generally provide liability coverage for negligence claims that arise on the homeowner’s property. If an accident or injury takes place in a store or other commercial property, there will likely be a commercial liability policy that will pay damages resulting from the property owner’s negligence.

Drivers are required by state law to carry liability insurance. When an automobile accident is caused by another driver’s negligence, the negligent driver’s liability coverage should cover any injury claims of other people, up to the liability limits of the policy. If those liability limits are not sufficient to cover all the injuries resulting from a single accident, the claimant’s own policy may provide underinsured motorist coverage, which may cover all or part of the difference.

Unfortunately, many people in Montana drive with no insurance, in violation of state law. When they cause an accident that results in personal injury, the victims can make a claim against the uninsured coverage of their own policies. As we discussed in an earlier post, Montana law requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, unless the customer rejects the coverage at the time they buy their policy. Some Montana auto insurance policies also include personal injury protection, or PIP coverage, that will cover the insured’s medical expenses arising out of a car accident, up to certain limits.

At the Billings Edmiston and Colton Law Firm, we have years of experience in negotiating injury claims with insurance carriers. For more information on how we can help those injured in an automobile or other accident, please visit our web page.