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2 ways insurance protects pedestrians struck by cars in Arizona

On Behalf of | Jan 30, 2023 | Car Accidents |

A pedestrian obviously doesn’t have an obligation to carry insurance related to liability for walking. The chances of a pedestrian causing serious injury to others or major property damage losses are relatively low.

However, there are liability coverage and other forms of insurance that can potentially help pedestrians if they get struck by a vehicle in Arizona. Given that cars can cause such serious damage, everyone with their own vehicle should also have insurance coverage.

As a pedestrian, you pose very little threat to others but are certainly at risk if the people in vehicles near you do something unsafe. The more frequently you walk on public roads or on paths that cross the road, the more important it becomes to carefully follow traffic laws and to know what protects you if a pedestrian collision occurs. Motor vehicle insurance actually helps protect pedestrians in two distinct ways after a crash.

  1. A driver’s liability insurance can reimburse you

When someone hits you and breaks your leg, you can potentially bring a claim against their Arizona liability insurance. The bodily injury coverage on their policy can pay for your hospital bills and also your lost wages. Unfortunately, if you have severe injuries, the coverage provided by the driver may fall short of fully reimbursing you for your expenses. Thankfully, your insurance could also help.

  1. Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection may help

When the other driver has bad coverage, your policy can compensate you if you paid extra for underinsured motorist protection. You may also have uninsured motorist protection, which can be important if a driver doesn’t have an active policy or flees the scene of a crash.

The supplemental coverage on your policy can reimburse you for the costs that insurance would typically cover if the other driver had enough protection. You may potentially be able to file two insurance claims. In fact, there could even be a third party with partial liability for the crash. Lawsuits may also help in a situation where insurance may not fully cover someone’s costs because their injury is severe.

Understanding your options after an Arizona pedestrian-car collision can help you hold the right party accountable for your losses.