Property Damage Insurance Claims
Detroit Car Accident Property Damage Claims
Our Detroit car accident lawyers often advise our clients on how to make claims for repairs and property damage following a Detroit car accident. Typically, your own insurance company pays for repairs to your car through Collision Insurance.Drivers are not required to purchase a collision insurance policy by the Michigan No Fault Act. Even though the law does not require a driver to buy collision insurance, I would still recommend you purchase a policy if you can afford one. If you are in an accident and do not have collision insurance, you will have to pay for the repairs to your car even if you were not at fault in the accident.
If you were not at fault, you may be able to collect $500.00 from the negligent driver in a “mini-tort claim,” but this is the most you will be able to collect. If you were at fault, you will not be able to collect anything.
If you do have collision insurance, your insurance company will pay for your car repairs. There are three forms of collision insurance and the type of policy you buy determines what exactly your insurance company will pay.
Limited Collision Coverage: Your insurance company pays for the repairs in an accident that was less than 50% your fault, but you have to pay the deductible. In an accident that is more than 50% your fault, the insurance company pays nothing and you have to pay the full cost of repairs unless you win a $500 mini-tort claim against the other driver.
Standard Collision Coverage: Your insurance company pays for the repairs and it does not matter whose fault the accident was. You still have to pay the deductible.
Broad Collision Coverage: Your insurance company pays for the repairs regardless of who was at fault. You have to pay the deductible if you were more than 50% at fault, but you do not have to pay the deductible if you were less than 50% at fault.
If you have insurance for your car, the most you will have to pay for repairs to the other car is the deductible for the other car. The maximum amount is $500.00. If the other car is not insured, the other driver can pursue a mini-tort claim against you, and the most you would have to pay is $500.00, even if the total costs of repair are much higher.
Contact a Detroit Car Accident Lawyer
The best thing to do is consult with an experienced Detroit car accident attorney to review your auto insurance policy and determine what type coverage you purchased. You should also contact your auto insurance agent to explain the type of insurance policy you have is best suited to your needs.
