Machias, Maine

Machias is a small town in coastal Maine that was the site of the first naval battle of the American Revolution. It is home to the University of Maine and translates in Passamaquoddy to "bad little falls." As in small towns across America, a serious car crash in Machias can lead to heated litigation between neighbors and friends. Sometimes it is not immediately apparent after an accident how devastating the injuries are, and this can give rise to misunderstandings. Often there is insurance to cover the cost of defense and any liability, but sometimes insurance is lacking. An experienced Maine car accident attorney can help you navigate this process so that you can focus on recovering after a serious injury.

If you are a driver in this state, you need to maintain a certain amount of liability insurance for your car in case you get into an accident. Liability insurance protects those that are injured in an accident by paying the often shockingly expensive bills that arise, particularly those associated with medical treatment. Maine requires fairly high minimum coverage, but it is wise to carry policies with even higher coverage if you can afford it. When liability insurance does not cover the full amount of somebody's damages, you can become personally liable for the rest. As a driver, you must carry $50,000 for an injury or death of a single person, $100,000 total for a single accident, $25,000 for property damage, and $1,000 for medical payments. You also can purchase a single combined policy of $125,000.

The most challenging cases are those that involve catastrophic injuries. These cases may lead to significant damages of many kinds. In a catastrophic injury, damages may include not only immediate medical care but lifelong medical treatment and physical therapy, vocational rehabilitation, compensation for the loss of activities, and pain and suffering. In those cases, if a motorist has chosen to get only the bare minimum coverage, you will need to turn to your own insurance policy for reimbursing your expenses.

In Maine, every car insurance policy includes uninsured or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. If the other driver chose to get the state minimum of $50,000, but your damages are $250,000, for example, you will have to ask your own insurer to pay the amount of UIM insurance coverage available.

In catastrophic injury cases, more than one person may not have been paying attention. Sometimes two or more drivers have been speeding or driving recklessly, resulting in a highway collision. Or, perhaps you were hit by a big rig in a location where the city was doing dangerous construction. In those cases, you may be able to sue multiple parties to recover for your injuries. This can be helpful in situations where each of those parties has insurance.

If you are hurt in a car accident near Machias, it is important to find a lawyer who can think through all your options, has a strong trial reputation that can be leveraged against insurers, and communicates clearly and compassionately with you. Peter Thompson & Associates provides excellent legal representation in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Contact us at 1.800.804.2004 or via our online form for a free consultation.