Car Damage vs. Injury Claims After a Saginaw Crash
Short answer: You'll usually have a property claim for the car and a separate injury claim for you. Settle the car when it's ready; hold the injury claim until you know how you're healing. Make sure any car release covers only the car.
Side by side
| Car claim | Injury claim | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays for | Repairs or total loss, rental | Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering |
| Usually handled by | You and the insurer | A personal injury lawyer, if you hire one |
| Timing | Often weeks | Often months, after treatment |
Total loss with a loan
Insurers pay actual cash value. If you owe more, gap coverage, if you have it, pays the difference.
Rental car
Paid by the at-fault driver's insurer, or by your own rental coverage.
The release trap
Read before you sign. A property damage release should be limited to property damage. If the wording is broad, or you're unsure, get a lawyer to look. Back to all insurance guides.
Questions after a Saginaw wreck?
A participating personal injury firm can review your situation for free. It takes about two minutes to ask, wherever in Texas the crash happened.