The value of your uninsured motorist claim is determined by the severity of your injury and your medical bills
The nature and extent of your injury is a major factor in valuing your claim. You must objectively evaluate your injury claim which starts with understanding the nature of your injury. A short-term minor injury has a modest settlement value. A severe permanent injury has significant value.
The primary considerations for an uninsured motorist injury - pain and suffering:
- Permanent versus temporary – a permanent injury can double or triple your claim value.
- Single body part versus multiple body parts – multiple injuries can greatly increase your injury claim value.
- Disabling versus annoying – an injury that truly disables or limits you increases the claim value.
- Painful versus annoying – provable pain increases the value of your claim.
- Disfiguring versus “invisible” – visible injuries such as scarring or burns increase case value.
UM Claim Example
To use an example, you have a back injury. A back sprain is worth less than a herniated disc. A back sprain typically is not as painful, disabling, or as expensive to treat as a herniated disc and typically heals within months. A typical herniated disc can be excruciatingly painful with pain shooting down your into your legs, it can render you bedridden and may take years to heal, if it ever heals. The usual back sprain usually requires modest treatment and medical bills: an emergency room visit and follow-up with an internist and physical therapy or chiropractic. A herniated disc will require a visit with a specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, an MRI or CT Scan, and extensive therapy, injections, and maybe surgery.
- Your medical expenses (and income loss)
Medical Bills are the Other Big Factor in Evaluating Your Injury Claim
Insurance companies know that economic damages typically will be compensated by an arbitrator, therefore the insurance adjuster is inclined to include your medical expenses in the settlement offer. Once upon a time, the concept existed that a case should settle for three times the amount of your medical bills. This is no longer true. It is still true, however, that insurers will use your medical bills as a primary basis for their offer.
Pain, disability, and disfigurement, the“non-economic damages”
Your pain, disability, and disfigurement should be significant factors in evaluating the worth of your UM claim. How do we evaluate these items? Think about frequency, severity, and effects. For example, was your pain constant or occasional, was your pain mild or severe, and was your pain something that prohibited you from normal activities or was it just an annoyance? Be prepared to prove these things in order to persuade the insurer.
Your uninsured motorist claim may be worth more than the insurance adjuster tells you
Insurance Payment Not a Priority for Insurers
Insurance companies want to settle claims for the lowest amount possible. The insurance business strategy is to advertise extensively and then collect insurance premiums. Paying your uninsured motorist claim is not a priority for insurers. Paying claims reduces insurance company profitability. Insurer advertising invokes thoughts and feelings that insurers are there for you like a kind wealthy uncle. When they want you to pay, they are wonderful. When you need them to pay, not so much.
The insurance adjuster is not Santa Clause. Think of Ebenezer Scrooge before his conversion. Know that your claim value evaluation is likely to be higher than the insurer’s claim value evaluation. You simply will be better able to mentally handle the process if you are prepared for a miserly offer. We have heard time and time again from clients who were unprepared for the harsh treatment they have received from insurers.
Video: How to Collect Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Where Will Your Case Be Decided?
In Illinois, uninsured driver claims are heard in arbitration if not settled by negotiation. The hearing can be in front of a three-arbitrator panel or in front of a single arbitrator. You need to know who is hearing your case. Certain arbitrators lean toward a more open-minded view on injury case value and awarding damages. Some arbitrators are more conservative or restricted in their view of injury claims. You would do well to know.
Who are You as a Person?
If you look and sound like a believable person who was injured, the arbitrator will be more inclined to award you the proper compensation. You will be penalized with an insufficient award if you are evasive, shifty, slovenly, or downright untruthful. Tell the truth. Dress well. Look the arbitrator in the eye. If you had an old back injury aggravated in this incident, you must tell the doctors and the insurance company. If your back healed from the old incident, tell them that and you will have more credibility. In sum, if you look and sound likable and believable, you increase your chance to obtain fair compensation for your uninsured motorist claim.
Your Insurance Policy Limits
Your claim may be worth $1,000,000 but if you only purchased $100,000 in uninsured motorist coverage, your maximum recovery is $100,000. In 25 years of handling uninsured driver claims, we have seen far too many clients with inadequate uninsured motorist coverage. Buying a low policy of limits of $20,000 to $100,000 can save money, but may end up hurting you if you need medical treatment. An overnight stay at the hospital can cost $20,000. Increased coverage limits do not cost as much as you may think. Many uninsured motorist attorneys and insurance professionals believe people should have at least $500,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Ask your agent about the costs of increased coverage. Increased coverage is not proportionately more expensive. For example, if a policy with $100,000 in coverage limits costs $1,000 annually, a policy with $250,000 in coverage limits might cost just another $100. In the event of a serious injury with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, that is extremely well-spent protection.
We Can Help You With Your Case
The above are my thoughts about valuing your uninsured motorist claim which is based on years of experience representing people as an attorney for uninsured motorist claims, arguing the facts and law in court, writing on the subject, and presenting materials at continuing law education seminars.
Every case is unique and your case must be evaluated independently based on the facts of your case and applicable law. I certainly hope the article contains some useful information. If you have questions and are in Illinois, I would be glad to take the time to speak with you.
If your insurer is not paying you what you think you deserve, let us review your case. Call us at (312) 766-1000 or email us at info@blg-legal.com and an uninsured motorist attorney will answer your questions. This is a free no-obligation consultation.