Car Insurance Issues - UM/UIM

Car insurance is a necessary cost that most responsible drivers take for granted. You purchase a policy and assume that if you are involved in an accident, the matter will be handled between your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company. However, what happens when you are involved in an accident with a driver who lacks adequate coverage to pay for your damages? In addition, what if you are hit by a driver who doesn’t have any insurance at all?

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may have options to pursue an insurance claim. However, these claims are not as simple as those involving two insured drivers are, and it can be difficult to successfully deal with the insurance company on your own. Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright's lawyers for a free assessment of your case. We have offices conveniently located in Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Hamlin, Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, PA.

There are two types of drivers who lack sufficient insurance coverage – and in the terms of the insurance industry, they are known as underinsured or uninsured motorists. An underinsured motorist is a driver who does have insurance, but the amount of coverage he or she has purchased isn’t enough to cover the damages you suffered. An uninsured motorist is one who doesn’t have any automotive insurance at all.

While all drivers are required to carry insurance, not everyone does – and not everyone carries enough. Insurance companies offer an option as part of your car insurance policy known as Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist coverage. If you are hurt in an accident and the other driver was at fault but doesn’t have enough or any insurance, this additional coverage enables you to file a claim with your own insurance company. Basically, your insurance company takes the place of the other driver’s insurance and supplements your damages.

For instance, if you are seriously hurt by a driver who had liability coverage of only $15,000 and your injuries and medical bills total $100,000, the other driver’s insurance can’t pay more than $15,000. If you have purchased underinsured coverage, then your own insurance company can help to pay the difference.

If your car is hit by someone who leaves the scene of the accident, then you have no means of collecting damages from the other driver. If you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurer.

Pennsylvania law doesn’t make underinsured or uninsured coverage mandatory, which means that you must check carefully to know whether you have purchased this optional coverage. Many people elect not to purchase it, but the few dollars saved on an insurance premium are rarely worth it when an uninsured driver plows into your vehicle and leaves you without legal options to pursue compensation.

If you do choose to purchase underinsured and uninsured coverage, you have the opportunity to file a claim for compensation. Insurance companies, even your own, are not eager to pay large claims – and although you may have been a loyal customer for years, you can still encounter challenges once you file your claim.

However, an attorney familiar with underinsured and uninsured motorist claims can help. The Munley, Munley & Cartwright firm has years of experience in dealing with accident claims. We know how to clearly present the facts of your case and prepare a case strategy designed to protect your interests – not those of the insurance company.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you deserve experienced legal representation from a firm that understands the challenges you face because of your injuries – a firm that is committed to obtaining the compensation you deserve. When drivers engage in behavior that puts others at risk, they must be held accountable – and you shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for their negligent and reckless refusal to drive safely.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us today online or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.