What Happens If the At-Fault Party Does Not Have Insurance Policy Limits?

When you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another party, you expect that the motorist’s insurance company to pay for your property damage and personal injuries. What happens if the at fault party only has the state required minimum coverage of $15,000 and your claim is worth more than that? What can you do? 

If you opted to purchase underinsured motorist coverage (commonly referred to as UIM) as part of your insurance policy, you may be covered for the additional damages you suffered in the accident. An experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney can provide you with more information and guidance.

What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage provides additional compensation when you have been injured in a car accident and the at fault party does not have insurance to cover your bills. UIM can cover a variety of expenses that you incurred as part of your accident, such as:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of wages
• Emotional pain and suffering
• Loss of future earning capacity

The bottom line is that if the at fault party does have insurance but not enough to cover your expenses, underinsured motorist coverage can cover the difference between your bills and the liable party’s coverage up to the limits of your policy.

The Important Role of Your Attorney When Making a UIM Claim

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is a not a gift from your insurance company. You already paid a premium for this coverage. However, while you may be entitled to this coverage, your insurance company will not simply hand you whatever amount you deserve on a silver platter.

In most cases, successfully filing a claim against your UIM and getting the full compensation that you deserve is more difficult. Insurance companies are generally more hesitant to pay an underinsured motorist claims as opposed to their insured’s underlying claim. You need to negotiate even harder with the adjuster. Adjusters make it even more difficult for victims to prove why they are entitled to the full UIM limits. As such, it is important to have an experienced and aggressive accident attorney on your side to obtain the full extent of the compensation that you deserve.

Contact Us Today!

 Attorney Samer Habbas is a Los Angeles car accident attorney with years of experience. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call (888) 848-5084, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can even come to you. Huge amounts of money have been offered to our clients.