Maine Injury Lawyer Blog
After a car accident, most injury victims file an insurance claim to recover for their damages. Indeed, insurance companies play a critical role in most Maine car accident cases, and it is essential that these companies responsibly, accurately, and lawfully review claims. Insurance companies who fail to settle claims, unduly delay compensation, or improperly deny claims can cause injury victims to experience significant physical, financial, and emotional consequences. Maine has several complicated and specific statutes in place to hold insurance companies liable for engaging in this behavior. However, these remedies are often hard to effectuate and require a comprehensive understanding of Maine’s insurance laws.
Under Maine’s insurance laws, anyone who owns or operates a vehicle in the state must carry the minimum amount of coverage required by law, which is $50,000 per person or $100,00 per accident for bodily injury liability, $25,000 for property damage, and $2,000 per person in medical payments coverage. Additionally, motorists must purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) of at least $50,000 per person and $100,00 per accident. This crucial coverage protects drivers and their passengers if the at-fault party does not have insurance or has inadequate coverage. Although, these amounts may seem high, they are often not enough to cover the damages caused by a serious Maine car accident.
Maine drivers naturally purchase motor vehicle coverage with the belief that the insurance company will provide them with financial protection. Generally, insurance companies must engage with their policyholders in good faith. This means that the law requires insurance companies to fairly and meticulously review a policyholder’s claim and attempt to settle claims against the insured. When an insurance company acts in bad faith by unlawfully failing to approve or settle a claim without a reasonable basis, they may face legal consequences through a Main bad faith insurance claim.
In many states, there are two types of bad faith insurance claims, first-party and third-party claims. Third-party claims occur when an insurance company refuses or fails to defend a claim against the insured by an injured third-party. Unlike other states, Maine does not recognize a common-law action for bad faith against a first-party insurance company. This means that Maine drivers have limited remedies available when their insurance company fails to settle a claim adequately. However, Maine allows these drivers to file a civil lawsuit against these insurance companies based on their contractual duty to act in good faith. Further, Maine will enable insureds to file a lawsuit under the state’s unfair claims settlement practices. However, the statute provides particular situations when this is applicable, and it is essential accident victims discuss their specific case with a knowledgeable Maine injury lawyer.
Are You Having Difficulty Recovering after a Maine Car Accident?
Over the decades since Peter Thompson & Associates has opened its doors, we have helped countless Maine accident victims in their claims against negligent drivers and insurance companies. Our attorneys understand that swift, appropriate financial compensation after a Maine car accident is crucial to an injury victim’s complete recovery. We have successfully represented Maine accident victims in their lawsuits for over 20 years and routinely recover substantial settlements and jury awards on behalf of our clients. Contact our office at 1-800-804-2004 to discuss your case with a Maine accident attorney.