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The last thing anybody wants or expects when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle is that they will be involved in an accident. Unfortunately, vehicle accidents are not uncommon throughout the state of Arizona. In many cases, accidents result in injuries for drivers and passengers. However, that is not always the case. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were more than 91,000 total property-damage-only collisions throughout the state. Here, we want to discuss whether or not you can recover compensation for a no-injury car accident. This is important to know because property damage collisions can become costly as well.
One of the most pressing expenses in the aftermath of any vehicle accident has to do with vehicle repairs. We need our vehicles, plain and simple. If you have been involved in a vehicle accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver, then that driver should be responsible for covering your property damage expenses through their insurance carrier.
Additionally, any other personal property inside the vehicle that was damaged should also be eligible for repair or replacement through the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. This can include items such as cell phones, computers, car seats, and any other items you may have had in the vehicle at the time of the collision. Tragically, pets are typically considered property for the purposes of compensation in the aftermath of an accident. If your pet was injured or killed in an accident, compensation will usually be recoverable through this route.
Sometimes it takes a while for a vehicle to be repaired after an accident occurs, particularly if there was a significant amount of property damage. In the meantime, accident victims may be able to get a rental vehicle so they can get to and from work or other locations. Often, drivers choose to add rental vehicle coverage to their insurance coverage is so that they will have a vehicle to drive if an accident occurs. If you have opted for this coverage on your own insurance, you will likely have a rental vehicle very quickly after the incident, but usually only for a set amount of time.
If another driver caused the accident, your insurance carrier will usually recover the cost of the rental vehicle through the final insurance settlement with the at-fault driver’s carrier.
Just because there may be no actual physical injuries does not mean that a person will not experience various types of pain and suffering, including emotional distress and psychological trauma. This can lead to periods of time where a person is unable to carry out their daily activities, including work. In addition to these pain and suffering losses, a person may lose income if they cannot get to work because of their damaged vehicle or because they are dealing with the emotional trauma of the accident.
Unfortunately, securing pain and suffering damages in the aftermath of a no-injury accident can be challenging. Typically, insurance carriers will only pay out pain and suffering losses if there is a diagnosable injury from a medical professional. Usually, the insurance carriers are looking for a physical injury that, in turn, led to a person’s pain and suffering. Absent any physical injuries or diagnosis of a mental health condition caused by the accident, it is unlikely that there will be any pain and suffering damages available.