All serious car accidents are frightening and distressing. Learning that you were hit by an uninsured motorist or underinsured driver can make a stressful experience even more worrisome.
How will you pay your medical bills if the other driver is uninsured? What if a passenger in your car is seriously injured? And who pays to fix the car? Don’t worry. Contact one of our uninsured accident attorneys at San Tan Valley Personal Injury Lawyer to discuss uninsured motorist coverage.
Many accident victims believe they are just out of luck if they are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Our uninsured motorist lawyers will explain how you can turn to your own auto insurance policy for coverage in these cases as well as in hit and run accidents.
Everyone who purchases auto insurance in Arizona must be offered uninsured motorist coverage. Unless you declined this coverage in writing, your policy most likely includes coverage for accidents involving uninsured and hit and run drivers. You may also have purchased underinsured motorist coverage.
Your uninsured motorist coverage insures you and the passengers in your vehicle who suffer bodily harm caused by a driver with no insurance. If another driver is using your car with your permission, he or she is also covered by your UM (uninsured motorist) coverage.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is similar to uninsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance pays the difference between the other driver’s insurance limits and the total damages for bodily injury.
Uninsured and underinsured drivers present a huge problem in Arizona. While the rate of uninsured drivers has declined in recent years, more than 14 percent of drivers remain uninsured or lack full coverage.
If your claim exceeds the limits of your UM/UIM coverage, our lawyers will look to your policy’s personal injury protection (PIP). This coverage typically pays for medical expenses, loss of work income, and accidental death and funeral expenses no matter who was at fault in the accident.
For most people insurance policies are difficult to read and nearly impossible to understand. Our personal injury attorneys can translate the policy into clear English (or Spanish) and explain exactly what is covered and what is not. Most importantly, they will advocate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the full amount of coverage you deserve.