In a California personal injury case, the term deductible means:
- The amount of money you have to pay out of your own pocket before your insurance coverage starts paying for a claim.
With a personal injury claim, this is probably going to involve your car insurance–but it works the same way your health insurance does. Right after your accident, you’re going to have a few out-of-pocket expenses to take care of. But when you need to go further, our team will be there with guidance. Set up a free consultation to talk through your options.
When Will My Deductible Kick In After an Accident?
In most personal injury cases, you’re filing with the other person’s insurance. But in certain situations, you might have to go through your own insurance, and that’s when your deductible is going to kick in. It depends on the specifics, but generally, you’ll need to pay your deductible if:
- If you use your collision coverage. Collision insurance pays for damage to your car, no matter who caused the accident. If you open a collision claim, your deductible is due before your insurer covers the remaining repair costs.
- If the other driver is at fault but you can’t wait. Sometimes the other driver’s insurance should pay, but their insurer is dragging its feet or denying fault. You might choose to file through your own collision coverage to get your car repaired faster. In that case, you’ll pay your deductible upfront—but your insurer may try to recover that money from the at-fault driver’s insurer later and reimburse you.
- If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. Depending on your policy, your deductible may apply if you use your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
In short, your deductible “kicks in” anytime you rely on your own policy to handle the repairs. If the other driver is clearly at fault and their insurance pays from the beginning, you usually won’t owe a deductible at all.
What Can Maison Law Do For You in a Personal Injury Case?
In theory, you could handle an injury claim on your own. In reality, most people are already juggling doctor appointments, missed work, and the day-to-day stress of getting their life back on track.
Then there are the insurance calls—friendly voices asking for “just a quick statement” about what happened. What they’re really doing is looking for ways to reduce the amount they might have to pay. That’s when having guidance matters most, and that’s where our team comes in. We can:
- Look at every angle of the accident to identify all responsible parties.
- Gather police reports, witness statements, medical records, and other evidence to support your claim.
- Handle all the talks with insurance companies so you don’t have to.
- Prepare for court if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement.
You’ve got enough to focus on without worrying about paperwork. We handle the legal and insurance side so you can concentrate on getting better. Set up a free consultation today.
