Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC)
If you have no insurance and are the victim of a hit-and-run accident or are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, you may still be covered. Cyclists or pedestrians may be able to receive benefits from the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) which is funded by assessments levied upon insurers who write auto insurance policies in the state. MVAIC claims will seem complicated to most laypeople. Also, they require near-immediate action. In most cases, accident reports must be filed within 24 hours of an accident. An injury attorney who is familiar with such claims and how the MVAIC works will be extremely helpful in helping you navigate a MVIAC claim. Information on these claims is available at ww.mvaic.com.
Personal Auto Insurance
If you’re injured in a motor vehicle-related accident while walking or cycling and you have your own auto insurance, there are times when it may provide important benefits. One instance is if you’re injured in a hit-and-run accident or by a driver who has either no insurance or is inadequately insure. Another can occur if your medical expenses exhaust the $50,000 no-fault limit. A qualified injury attorney can offer you guidance on how to access your auto insurance if necessary.
Personal Health Insurance
Often when we’re injured and need medical care, our first instinct is to rely on personal health insurance. It’s perfectly logical – our health insurance most frequently covers our medical needs. But when it comes to accidents involving motor vehicles, no-fault insurance should be your primary insurance and your health insurance should always be considered secondary. (If you’re injured in the course of your employment, worker’s compensation is primary.) Having health insurance can give you peace of mind that you won’t be paying out-of-pocket for an ambulance ride or a set of x-rays in the ER, but in cases involving cars and collisions with cars, it’s beneficial to seek benefits offered by auto insurance. If you use your health insurance to cover medical expenses, then recover damages though a no-fault claim, you’ll likely be required to reimburse your health insurance carrier for the benefits it paid.
Adam White Law has worked with hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians injured in automobile accidents and can help you, too. Please call for a consultation.
If you have questions, call 212-577-9710 or email us and learn more.