Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims in Sacramento
Filing an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company should be simple. After all, you are paying for the coverage that protects you if you are hit by a person with no insurance. However, many drivers find that dealing with their own insurance companies may be as much of a hassle as dealing with another driver’s insurance company after an accident. You’ll need to consult with a Sacramento car accident lawyer about your uninsured motorist claim, especially if you feel you are being dealt with unfairly by your own insurance company.
Demas Law Group, P.C., has helped many people dealing with the aftermath of a car accident with an uninsured driver. Contact us today to discover how you can secure and calculate the full settlement you need to heal and move on from your accident. You can reach us at (916) 764-3059.
What Events Can Lead to a Sacramento Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claim?
Although the events surrounding an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim may differ, the basics stay the same. Essentially, something like the following chain of events occurs when a victim is injured by a driver without insurance:
- An accident occurs in which a person other than the victim is at fault. The driver may stay at the scene or flee, depending on the circumstances. If the driver flees, the police may catch him or her or they may not. If the driver is not found, the hit person is considered a victim of a hit-and-run accident.
- If the driver flees or stays at the scene and is unable to produce proof of insurance, he or she is uninsured. At this point, the victim must communicate with his or her own insurance company to handle the matter.
- If the driver produces proof of insurance but it is later found that the coverage is insufficient to meet the expenses of the accident, the victim must also communicate this information to his or her own insurance company.
- The victim’s insurance company examines the claim for damages and decides whether or not to pay.
If the victim’s insurance company denies the claim for any reason, the victim may be faced with a long battle to force the company to pay. Without the help of an experience personal injury lawyer in Sacramento, the victim may never recover the money he or she should receive for the claim.
What Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims Cover in Sacramento
Your uninsured motorist insurance coverage should pay to cover all the damages and losses the other driver’s insurance company would have paid (if they had insurance). Uninsured motorist insurance should cover the driver and any passengers in a vehicle involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Uninsured motorist insurance coverage will only cover damages up to your insurance policy limit. So, if you’ve purchased $50,000 or $100,000 in uninsured motorist insurance, your insurance company only has to reimburse you up to that limit amount. This means that if you injuries were severe enough to rack up bills that are higher than the limit, you’ll have to pay the balance. Here are some of the damages your uninsured motorist insurance will cover:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future wages
Remember, there are damages your uninsured motorist insurance coverage WILL NOT cover. These include any damage to your vehicle. Your insurance’s collision coverage will cover those damages. Uninsured motorist insurance will also not cover punitive damages, which are payments meant to punish the negligent party for their actions. To discuss more about what you can pursue in an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, contact Demas Law Group, P.C.
What Should I Do If My Sacramento Insurance Company Refuses To Pay?
Even before an insurance company denies a claim, it is a good idea to talk to a personal injury attorney. However, it is vital that the victim talk to an attorney if the company does deny the claim. A personal injury lawyer can represent the victim in collecting money from his or her own insurance company. In some cases, simply retaining an attorney is enough to force the insurance company to pay. In other cases, the attorney may have to negotiate or even file a lawsuit to collect the money that is owed to the victim. A personal injury attorney will represent the victim in a case against his or her own insurance company, if necessary, and work to recover damages to pay for medical bills, lost wages, property damage and pain and suffering.
Contact an Experienced Sacramento Attorney to Help Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim
Demas Law Group, P.C., have assisted many people who’ve been involved in accidents with uninsured drivers. Let us help you pursue a claim against these negligent motorists. Call us today at (916) 764-3059.
This literature may be considered attorney advertising or an offer of professional services, according to rule 1-400 Rules of Professional Conduct by the State Bar of California. The information does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your potential legal matter.
