have car insurance. If you are injured in a car crash caused by a negligent driver, what can you do? Medical bills and insurance deductibles can add up to hefty costs out of pocket.
Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) and uninsured motorist coverage (UM) pay the medical bills and other expenses associated with accidents caused by drivers that do not have liability insurance or someone who does not have enough liability insurance to pay their medical bills. A Marion personal injury lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can help you through this.
What Is an Uninsured Motorist?
An uninsured motorist policy provides coverage when a policyholder is involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
If the other driver is legally responsible for the accident but is uninsured, then this is an add-on to a standard auto policy that pays for injuries to the policyholder and passengers, as well as property damage.
What Is an Underinsured Motorist?
An underinsured motorist policy adds protection to your auto policy. It protects you in the event of an accident with someone whose insurance isn’t adequate.
An injured person is supposed to be compensated by the at-fault person’s insurance after an accident. Underinsured motorist coverage would cover the rest of the damages if the at-fault party’s policy limit is less than the cost of the damages.
Underinsured coverage differs from uninsured coverage, which covers cases in which the at-fault driver has no coverage whatsoever, even though the two may be bundled together.
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What to Do After an Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Accident
After an accident, you should take these steps to protect yourself, regardless of whether the driver who hit you has insurance.
1. Make a Police Report
Due to emotional manipulation by the liable driver, you may feel compelled to avoid reporting the accident. You may not be able to get compensation, either from your insurance company or from any other parties who may have contributed to the accident if you fail to report the accident.
In addition, the cause of the accident could also be hard to prove. If you leave the scene of an accident, you can also face legal penalties, unless you do so to seek medical attention, summon help, or remove yourself from an unsafe situation.
2. Never Accept Liability
You could be held liable for a percentage of the damages if you accept even partial responsibility for the accident. It may mean that your insurance must cover the other driver’s vehicle and injuries, not just your own.
3. Seek Medical Care
When the accident occurred, you may have thought that you were not hurt. Many serious injuries can be concealed by adrenaline until long after they have occurred. Several hours or even days after an accident, accident victims discover that they have suffered serious injuries.
If left untreated, serious injuries can worsen. Do not risk your health. Seek treatment at a hospital or urgent care facility. The sooner you get treatment, the better. Don’t put off getting it.
4. Contact Your Insurance Provider
You may need to contact your auto insurance provider and your health insurance provider if you sustained property damage or injuries in an accident with an uninsured driver.
It is important to remember that insurance companies have their bottom lines to consider, so be cautious when dealing with them.
5. Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer
Following an accident with an uninsured motorist, a car accident lawyer can offer a variety of advantages. An accident lawyer can:
- Inform you of your legal rights
- Represent you before your insurance company
- Be there for you every step of the way
- Help you to file a claim for damages
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Why You Should Consider Obtaining a Marion, AR Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Claim Lawyer
Underinsured motorist accidents are typically not immediately recognizable. After an accident, it usually takes some time for the full extent of the damage to become evident and for you to determine whether the negligent driver was adequately insured.
Due to the complexity of an underinsured motorist claim, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney to assist you in filing a personal injury claim against the party at fault in your accident and an underinsurance claim with your insurance company.
An experienced uninsured and underinsured motorist claim lawyer in Marion, AR can help you determine the extent of injuries you sustained in the accident, so you know how much compensation to seek from your underinsured motorist policy.
Though uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is included in your insurance policy, getting a fair resolution to your claim may not always be as straightforward as you might expect.
When there is not enough insurance to cover your losses after a car accident, or when you have a snag in your uninsured/underinsured motorist claim, you may want to consult an attorney to understand your options.
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How to File a Claim in an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Accident
As soon as possible, let your insurer know that you intend to file an uninsured claim if you believe the driver who hit you is uninsured. Obtaining a statement detailing the coverage limits from the at-fault driver’s insurance company might be necessary if the driver is underinsured.
Some car insurance policies require notification of potential uninsured claims within certain time frames. Notify your insurer as soon as possible. Immediately notify your insurer if the other driver does not have insurance or refuses to give you information about their coverage, and if you cannot obtain insurance information any other way, that you intend to file an uninsured motorist claim.
A car accident claim involving underinsured motorists generally takes longer to progress, at least until your medical treatment is complete and you have an idea of what your case is worth. When you have received a verdict that exceeds the defendant’s liability coverage, you must immediately notify your insurer that an underinsured motorist claim will be filed.
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Contact a Marion, AR Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claim Attorney Today
An experienced uninsured and underinsured motorist claim attorney in Marion, AR should be contacted as soon as possible if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by an uninsured motorist.
Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC’s uninsured and underinsured motorist claim attorneys are committed to helping you recover compensation for your injuries so that you can move on with your life.