Whenever a resident of Alberta buys some type of car insurance, the terms stated in that policy make clear the source of any necessary compensation. In addition, the Province of Alberta has created a system for helping accident victims to get compensated for any accident-caused losses.
The smart vehicle owner pays for those options that cover the typical problems, such as car repair and medical expenses. Sometimes, though, a policy holder neglects to take advantage of those must useful options. And that is why a personal injury lawyer in Spruce Grove has to be consulted.
What gets covered in a typical automobile insurance policy?
Collision coverage serves as a source of money for repairs. A vehicle owner that has failed to purchase that option must file a claim through the at-fault insurer. That assumes that the same vehicle owner did not cause the collision. Someone responsible for an accident will find it hard to get coverage from the company that has agreed to insure the other party.
Medical expenses that arise from minor injuries get covered by Alberta’s Accident Benefits Coverage. It is also called Section B benefits. At times the Section B benefits also get used to cover the expenses created by more debilitating injuries.
There are a couple sources of funds for medical expenses that arise from major injuries. The affected vehicle owner can check to see if he or she has a private medical insurance. If that same owner is employed, he or she may be able to use the employer’s medical insurance. In addition, the insurer could be asked about covering any expenses that had not yet been reimbursed.
What if a vehicle owner has no private medical insurance, and has used up all of his or her Section Be benefits? Then how can any major injuries be covered? In that case, the injured victim must send an application to the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund, which is run by Alberta’s Provincial government.
Suppose there are remaining expenses, after all those sources of money have been exhausted?
Under those circumstances the victim and policy holder must initiate a personal injury action against the responsible driver. That suggested action assumes that the collision was caused by someone else’s negligence. If that is not the case, the remaining expenses must be paid out of any other source of money that might be available to the injured driver, or the driver with a damaged vehicle.
The Canadian system puts limits on any driver’s ability to seek money for pain and suffering. Lawyers in Canada would like to change that aspect of the country’s system, but so far they have not managed to achieve that goal.