Accidents Involving Underinsured motorists
While certain statewide laws mandate that motor vehicle operators carry some liability insurance, drivers involved in accidents too often find that they have an inadequate amount of insurance to cover the damages and injuries they cause—this is known as being underinsured. For those who are the victims in these types of accidents, it can be particularly worrying to learn that the person at fault for your injuries is incapable of taking rightful financial responsibility.
If you were in an accident with an underinsured motorist and you are worried about collecting the full compensation to which you are entitled, our uninsured motorist attorneys may be able to help. We often deal with issues concerning underinsured motorist claims or uninsured motorists, our lawyers can work with you and your insurance company to arrange just compensation for your auto accident injuries or damages.
What is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Underinsured motorist coverage (sometimes known as UIM) is a protective provision of full coverage insurance policies that covers you in case of an accident with someone who has minimal insurance that does not cover your injuries or damages. In Illinois, the minimum levels of liability insurance that all drivers must possess are the following:
- Up to $20,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one accident
- Up to $40,000 for bodily injury or death of more than one person in one accident
- Up to $15,000 worth of damage to personal property
When you opt for underinsured motorist coverage on your policy, you can seek compensation if you are in an accident that extends beyond the minimum levels to include more substantial medical expenses, lost wages due to missed time from work, vehicle repair work, and other costs. Underinsured motorist claim plans are valued depending on your particular policy and the amount you pay in premiums. Most underinsured motorist policies fully cover the level of liability (often called bodily injury, or BI), although the purchaser can elect to cover less than the amount of BI.
Filing a Claim for UM Coverage
When you find it necessary to file for the coverage provided by your own UIM policy, you file your claim directly against your own insurance provider, who acts as the at-fault party. Because they are businesses first and foremost, and therefore try to limit their losses as much as possible, insurance companies may not be as cooperative as you would like throughout this process. Additionally, since you are dealing with an insurance company, claims often go to arbitration before reaching a settlement. Our attorneys put your interests first, we handle all aspects of your claim, and make sure you receive just compensation.
Underinsured Motorist Attorneys who protect you
Our capable lawyers offer extensive experience dealing with insurance companies on all issues, and in particular, those relating to automobile accident claims.
If you would like a free no obligation consultation about your case with a lawyer that specializes in uninsured motorist claims, call us at (312) 766-1000 or email us at info@blg-legal.com. You can also complete our website contact form and one of our experienced underinsured motorist attorneys will contact you. We serve clients in Chicago, Cook County and throughout Illinois.