Corpus Christi Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Attorney
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
An Uninsured Motorist is someone who carries less insurance than the residential state requires or someone who does not carry insurance at all. This means if you are in an accident that you are not at fault for, you will need to file an uninsured motorist claim under your own insurance.
Our advice after an accident is to not talk with insurance company representatives. Get in touch with our office and let our seasoned uninsured motorist accident attorneys deal with the insurance company on your behalf. We have many years of experience handling uninsured motorist accident claims, and we have successfully resolved more than 20,000 cases.
Do I really need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
The only thing worse than being in a car accident is being in a car accident where it was not your fault, and the at-fault driver does not have insurance. Pay for the extra coverage so you are not stuck paying out of pocket for repairs or medical expenses.
Uninsured policies include a deductible like all collision claims, However, uninsured deductibles are only $250. The coverages this policy includes are a rental car if needed, diminished value, car repairs, replacement to the property that was in the vehicle, your and your passenger’s medical bills & last but not least, any pain and suffering caused by the collision.
It is important to know that your auto insurance will not cover if you are hit while using your vehicle for commercial use; for example, if you are using your vehicle for ride-share or delivering food, you will not be covered even if the accident is not your fault.
Another instance where you may not be covered is if the accident is partly your fault. Depending on the state laws and the amount of fault in the accident, you may receive some coverage for the damages.
Claiming Uninsured Motorist Coverage Requirements
When the investigation process for an accident begins, if there is no insurance carried by the at-fault driver, the authorities inform the other involved parties. If the accident is a hit-and-run or the police are not called to the scene, you should try to gather as much information as you can. Get the names, addresses, license plates, photos of the accident, and even phone numbers of the other parties involved or witnesses at the scene.
You should contact an Attorney to file a claim on your behalf as soon as possible, providing them with all the evidence and information you have. There is a limit in some states and with some insurance companies on how long you have to file a claim your uninsured claim.
Throughout the duration of your claim process, your insurance company will want copies of the bills and medical records provided by the medical care providers sought out, as well as any repairs that were done to the damaged vehicle. Insurance providers can determine whether or not the injuries or damage caused to your body and vehicle are related and necessary to an incident. When this happens, the case goes to binding arbitration.
Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Accident Statistics
Twelve percent of all drivers in the U.S. – or 1 in every eight drivers – were uninsured in 2012, as the Insurance Information Institute reported. The situation is even worse in Texas, where 13.3 percent of all drivers in 2012 were uninsured. This amounts to 2.6 million uninsured drivers in Texas.
Even when a driver carries the minimum coverage required by law, it may not be enough to cover your damages if you suffer serious injuries in an accident caused by the other driver. Texas minimum liability limits are 30/60/25 – $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 total per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident.
Medical expenses and property damage could easily exceed these limits in a serious accident with injuries. A driver who injures others is considered “underinsured” if his or her insurance policy limit is insufficient to cover damages caused by the accident.
If an uninsured/underinsured driver injures you in an automobile accident, do not give up hope. Your best course of action is to consult with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., we help accident victims pursue the compensation they deserve, even when the parties liable for their injuries are uninsured or underinsured.
Compensation Options in Uninsured/Underinsured Driver Claims
When insurance coverage is limited, the job of your auto accident lawyer is to find sources of compensation for your losses, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Our team will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation through every avenue available to you, which may include:
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: Bodily Injury UM/UIM may cover lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and permanent or partial disability. Property Damage UM/UIM may cover automobile repairs, damage to any items in your vehicle, and car rental.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This coverage pays for medical bills, funeral expenses, 80 percent of lost income, and the cost of a caregiver for an injured person, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
- Med Pay: This covers medical expenses for all occupants of your vehicle who were injured in the accident, regardless of who was at fault. Limits are typically below $25,000.
Dedicated Advocates for Auto Accident Victims of Uninsured Motorists Corpus Christi
Our legal team will investigate all aspects of your accident and the level of negligence that caused it. Our goal is to recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive and to get you and your family back on the road to recovery. For DUI-related accidents, you can contact our drunk driving lawyer as well.
Contact us today to schedule a free appointment to let us help you assess your legal rights and options.
Sources:
- Insurance Information Institute: Uninsured Motorists
- Texas Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance Made Easy
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.
If you or a loved one was injured, please get in touch with us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm that holds negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.
We remain by our client’s side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical, and financial needs. That dedication combines experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients suffer from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation, and their overall need for a lawyer.
