By law, all drivers are required to carry some type of liability insurance. In a perfect world, everyone would follow this law, but they don’t. That is why you need to make sure you are protected against uninsured motorists on your own accord.
Learn what you need to do in order to be properly protected should you get in an accident with an uninsured motorist.
Purchase Additional Insurance Coverage
Drivers are only required to carry liability insurance. This type of insurance only provides coverage for any bodily injury that occurs to others should you be considered at fault for an accident. This means if an uninsured motorist were to hit you and you only had liability insurance, you would not have any coverage for any injuries you sustain, and you would not be able to recover any lost wages. It also means that damage to your vehicle is not covered.
The only way to make sure you are protected against an uninsured motorist is to purchase additional insurance coverage. This requires you to pay a little more in premiums, but it gives you the peace of mind that you are protected in the event of an accident with an uninsured motorist.
There are three types of additional insurance coverage you should consider purchasing, which include:
- Personal injury protection – This will provide coverage for injuries, medical expenses and lost wages that you experience. This type of coverage can be used regardless of who was at fault.
- Uninsured motorist (UM) – This provides coverage should you be involved in an accident with someone who is uninsured. This coverage provides you with reimbursement for lost wages, pain and suffering, and damage to your vehicle.
- Underinsured motorist (UIM) – This coverage helps if the individual involved in an accident has insurance coverage, but the coverage doesn’t fully cover all the expenses associated with the damages.
Work Closely with a Personal Injury Attorney When Filing Claims
Should you find yourself in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you will want to work closely with a personal injury attorney when filing any type of claims for damages. Many times, insurance companies, even though they are supposed to be working in your best interest, are not. They often put extreme limits on the claims they will pay out. A personal injury attorney will make sure that you are properly represented and that you get maximum compensation for any claims you file.
Were you involved in a recent accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist? Let the Todd R. Durham Law Firm help you. As an experienced car accident and personal injury attorney, we will make sure you are properly represented when filing any claims with the insurance companies. We have helped numerous clients with cases involving accidents with uninsured and underinsured motorists.
Call us today at (214) 222-4000 to discuss your case and to see how we can help you fight for maximum compensation.
