While it's somewhat common (and understandable) to hear people complain about the areas of their lives that insurance doesn't cover, there's actually a flip side to this as well. There are a number of injury types that you may not have ever thought would be covered by insurance, but actually are - including several common injury types that often result in personal injury claims.
At William Rawlings & Associates, we have decades of experience dealing with insurance companies as we strive for just compensation for our personal injury clients around Salt Lake City, Draper, Provo and other parts of Utah. While many of our cases are in more well-known areas like car accidents or child injuries, we also help with lesser-known case types like passenger claims, malpractice suits and more. Whether it's your insurance or the insurance of a different liable party that's providing the compensation, here are several examples of surprising injury types you may not have realized are often covered by insurance.
As we alluded to above, a great example here is passenger claims. What happens if you're not the driver in a car accident, but rather are just an innocent passenger – perhaps even with no control over the vehicle at all?
In these cases, insurance companies will often provide coverage for personal injuries that occur to passengers, as long as they were not behaving negligently themselves. In cases where it's determined that a separate party in a different vehicle caused the accident, they may be responsible for your compensation via their insurance even if you were a passenger in a car that wasn't theirs.
Many people don't realize this, but dog bites are actually covered by homeowner's insurance in most cases. This includes both incidents that occur on the owner's property and those where the dog is taken off-site, such as to a park. Dog bite claims often include not just physical injuries, but also property damage or trauma compensation as well.
Once again, it's important to note that in some cases, the owner's insurance may not cover bites if they occur due to negligence or intentional harm. But more often than not, dog bite claims are eligible for compensation from insurance providers.
There are a few parties that may be considered at fault for injuries that occur due to a defective product: The manufacturer, the distributor or the seller of the product. In many cases, these parties will have some form of insurance coverage that can provide compensation for any resulting personal injuries.
This is especially important to note if you've been injured by a defective product and are considering filing a lawsuit – even if it's not clear at first who the liable party is, it's often possible to receive compensation from some form of insurance coverage. Make sure to discuss this with your personal injury attorney as you consider your options for seeking compensation.
Another common area where people may not realize insurance is often involved: Medical malpractice. In many states, doctors and medical professionals are required to carry malpractice insurance as a form of financial protection for those who may be injured in their care.
This means that if you suffer an injury or illness due to negligence or error by your doctor, you may be eligible for compensation from their insurance company. This also includes professionals like dentists, therapists, and nurses.
Depending on the circumstances, injuries that occur due to slip and fall accidents may also be covered by insurance. For example, if a business owner is found negligent in maintaining safe conditions on their property and you suffer an injury as a result, their liability insurance may cover your medical expenses or other damages.
While we've spent most of this blog going over injuries that are often covered by insurance in some way, here are some examples of those on the flip side - that will almost never be covered:
It's important to understand the extent of insurance coverage when it comes to personal injury claims. While there are many common injury types that are often covered, there are also several that typically are not.
At the offices of William Rawlings & Associates, we are dedicated to helping our clients receive the compensation they deserve for their personal injuries. Our experienced team is well-versed in dealing with insurance companies and will work tirelessly to fight for your rights and just compensation. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury around SLC, Draper, Provo or any other part of Utah, contact us today for a free consultation.