Insurance may not be enough if you have a brain injury

On Behalf of | Oct 26, 2021 | Serious Injuries

Car insurance in Louisiana is a liability-based system. The person who causes the crash is the one whose policy has to pay. State law requires that all drivers carry liability insurance for both property damage and bodily injury that they cause to others.

When another driver runs a red light or makes a blind left-hand turn right into your vehicle, you can make a claim against their insurance policy for the cost to repair your vehicle and your medical treatment. Unfortunately, if you suffer a serious injury, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may find that the other driver does not have enough insurance to cover your costs.

TBIs can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses

Suffering a brain injury could require trauma care, surgery and rehabilitative services for months. Even after all of that expensive treatment, someone with a TBI may not be able to do all of the same things they once could before their injury.

Some people will find that a brain injury results in lifelong limitations on their work functions. Others may struggle to live independently because they have trouble with organization or recall after their injury. The exact location and severity of the injury will influence its long-term impact on someone’s life. While no two crash-related brain injuries are the same, they often result in not only medical expenses but lost wages and lifelong diminished earning potential.

Louisiana does not require that much bodily injury insurance

If a driver only carries the minimum amount of insurance required under Louisiana state law to drive, that coverage will fall far short of what someone with a TBI requires.

It is legal for someone to drive in Louisiana with as little as $15,000 worth of medical coverage for a single crash. If more than one person gets hurt, that minimum coverage amount increases to $30,000. A single surgery or a week in the hospital could more than exceed the medical coverage available on some Louisiana car insurance policies.

Those suffering from a TBI after a car crash may have to explore other options for compensation, like a civil lawsuit. Knowing your rights will reduce the long-term impact of a brain injury on your life and your finances.