Chicago Underinsured Motorist Accidents Lawyer
Injured by a driver who didn’t have adequate insurance coverage? Involved in a hit-and-run accident?
Legal options may be available that enable you to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses. Navigating the claims process after an uninsured or underinsured motorist accident is no easy task, however.
Our experienced uninsured motorist accident lawyers at Lloyd Miller Law can help.
At our injury law firm in Chicago:
- We pride ourselves in providing big firm services with the convenience and personal attention only a small law firm can give.
- Our accident attorneys have an average of 25 years of trial experience, and we know what it takes to win underinsured and uninsured motorist accident cases.
We will identify all sources of recovery, help you file a claim or lawsuit against your own UM/UIM policy, and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you recover damages.
Contact the uninsured motorist lawyers at Lloyd Miller Law today and let’s get started with your recovery.
Call: 773-838-8100 to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION.
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Do You Need an Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer?
If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you have probably been left with a host of uncertainties that can hinder your physical and emotional recovery.
How will you get the money to pay for your medical bills?
How will you replace the income you’ve lost because you’ve been unable to work?
Can you file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim?
What happens if your insurance company refuses to pay?
What if the settlement offer isn’t enough?
The insurance company (even your own) is not on your side, and your chances of getting honest answers or help with your claim are slim to none.
Once they get wind of your accident claim, you’ll start to receive phone calls from insurance representatives. The company will send people out to investigate the crash, determine fault, and check out your injuries. They might even start to point fingers, blaming you for the accident. If they make you a settlement offer, chances are it will be for just enough to tempt you into settling the claim.
Additionally, as if dealing with one insurance company isn’t enough, you could be dealing with multiple teams of representatives if the other party had insurance, but the coverage limits were low.
THIS is why you need an experienced injury attorney to win your case. Call 773-838- 8100.
A Chicago uninsured motorist accident attorney with Lloyd Miller Law will guide you through the legal process, answering your questions and addressing your concerns every step of the way. We will help you understand the anatomy of a crash investigation, file an uninsured motorist claim or personal injury lawsuit against the appropriate party, and make sure your rights are protected as your case progresses.
When you hire our car accident injury lawyers to handle your case, our team will:
- Identify all sources of recovery
- Communicate with the insurance company or companies on your behalf
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Find key evidence that another uninsured motorist accident attorney might miss
- Interview witnesses and relevant third parties
- Bring your case to trial
- Help you WIN
What You Need to Know About Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents
The more you understand about uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents in Illinois, the better your chances of recovering full and fair compensation from the insurance company.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Illinois?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is mandatory in Illinois. Policies must include a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. You have the option of purchasing additional UM coverage. If you buy extra coverage, however, Illinois requires you to purchase an underinsured motorist policy. The underinsured motorist policy pays the difference between your UIM limits and the at-fault driver’s limits.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist policies are different from liability insurance policies. These policies are designed to pay for your damages if another driver causes a crash and he or she doesn’t have liability insurance, or the driver’s policy falls short of covering your losses. Your own uninsured motorist bodily injury policy will also help pay for your losses if you suffer injuries in a hit-and-run accident.
Why Might a Driver Flee the Scene of a Car Accident?
After an accident, drivers should remain at the scene, exchange information with other parties involved, and report the accident to law enforcement authorities as required by law. Unfortunately, drivers may leave the scene of a car accident, commonly known as fleeing the scene, or causing a hit-and-run, for various reasons:
- Panic: The stress and shock of an accident can cause some drivers to instinctively flee the scene without fully realizing the consequences.
- Intoxication: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may flee to avoid facing DUI charges or other legal consequences related to their impairment.
- Unlicensed or Uninsured: Individuals driving without a valid license or insurance may flee to evade legal repercussions for their lack of compliance with state laws.
- Outstanding Warrants: Drivers with outstanding warrants or a criminal record might leave the scene to avoid arrest or further legal trouble.
- No Valid Reason: In some cases, drivers may leave the scene due to negligence, irresponsibility, or a disregard for the well-being of others.
Regardless of the reason, leaving the scene of an accident means there is no insurance coverage held by an at-fault driver for the victim to file a claim against. Unless the driver is located, and has adequate liability coverage for bodily injuries, your UI coverage within your own insurance policy will need to foot the bill for injuries.
How to File an Uninsured (or Underinsured) Motorist Claim
To file an underinsured or uninsured motorist accident claim, you’ll start by contacting your own insurance company, reporting the accident, and letting them know that the at-fault driver did not have adequate insurance coverage to pay for your injuries. (if you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, the claims process is virtually the same.)
The insurer will investigate the accident and consider the cause of the crash, the extent of your injuries, and whether they can locate insurance held by the at-fault driver. Once their investigation is complete, they will most likely offer you a settlement to pay for your losses. They may, however, deny your claim.
In Illinois, when you file a claim with your insurance company, you are required to undergo arbitration is there is a dispute about your payout. You cannot simply sue the insurer. Arbitration hearings can be difficult for injured victims to win. These hearings usually favor insurance companies.
Before you agree to attend an arbitration hearing, contact our uninsured motorist lawyers for legal advice. We’ll fight to maximize your compensation.
Call 773-838- 8100.
Types of Compensation in Uninsured Motorist Accidents
Chances are, you are here because you suffered serious injuries in a crash. Maybe you spent days, weeks, or months in the hospital fighting to stay alive. Perhaps your injuries required you to go through multiple surgeries, suffer permanent scarring, or be left with a life-long disability. It could even be that you’re still in the hospital recovering under a doctor’s care, or that you need nursing assistance at home.
Whatever the case, one thing is certain – those medical bills piling up in your mailbox aren’t going to get paid on their own.
Since the at-fault driver didn’t carry adequate insurance coverage, left the scene of the crash, or had no insurance at all, you’re going to need to file an underinsured claim, or an uninsured motorist claim, to recover compensation.
Because the emotional and physical harm from a motor vehicle accident can leave you hurting in more ways than one, various types of compensation may be available.
Economic damages are easily quantifiable. They include the financial losses that accompany a car accident. You can recover compensation for your medical treatments, prescription medications, transportation to and from appointments, and lost wages. Saving bills, statements, and receipts can help your uninsured motorist accident lawyer prove your economic damages.
Non-economic damages provide you with monetary relief to ease the human cost of the accident. You may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of relationship, and loss of quality of life.
Punitive damages penalize the at-fault party for causing you harm and deter others from committing the same or similar harms. Not all cases merit an award of punitive damages. Punitive damages are appropriate if the at-fault party’s conduct was intentional, reckless, or egregious.
Sources of Recovery in Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accidents
In addition to your own UM or UIM policy, other sources of recovery may exist when you are injured in an uninsured or underinsured motorist accident. Our uninsured motorist accident lawyers will investigate your crash to determine all parties that may have contributed to your injuries, and the available insurance policies and other sources of recovery that may be available.
Our uninsured motorist accident lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation from:
- The at-fault driver directly
- An employer if you or the at-fault driver was working when the crash occurred
- A vehicle manufacturer if defective parts contributed to the crash
- Another at-fault driver in a multi-vehicle accident
- A government agency if traffic signals malfunctioned
“A big ‘thank you’ to Attorney Kurt Lloyd for bringing my case to a successful close. I was hit by a car as a pedestrian, and the driver was the employee of a large corporation. Kurt Lloyd was determined in tracking down the evidence that identified the hit/run driver, in pressing the driver’s company to step up [to] the plate, and managing the process through the court system. Kurt negotiated a great settlement. Thank you!”
FAQs About Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accidents in Chicago
How much does it cost to hire an uninsured motorist lawyer?
Most of the uninsured motorist accident lawyers in Chicago handle injury claims on a contingency basis. The lawyer does not receive payment for legal fees unless they win your case. When you receive a payout, the attorney’s fees and case costs are subtracted from your settlement or jury award.
How long do I have to file an uninsured motorist claim in Illinois?
The deadline to file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver is typically around 2 years in Illinois. Because an exception may apply, contacting an uninsured motorist accident lawyer is the best defense against missing a deadline.
Who pays for my injuries if the car that hit me was stolen?
If you were hit by a car that was stolen in Illinois, you will most likely need to rely on your own uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage to recover compensation for your losses.
What are the most common injuries after an uninsured motorist accident?
Common injuries after car accidents include whiplash, fractures, concussions, and soft tissue injuries. Whiplash, caused by sudden jerking motions, affects the neck and upper back. Fractures commonly occur in the arms, legs, and ribs. Concussions result from head trauma. Soft tissue injuries involve damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. You should always seek immediate medical attention after an accident, even if you do not have signs or symptoms of an injury.
Types of Injury Cases Our Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyers Handle
The attorneys at Lloyd Miller Law handle injury cases that stem from a wide range of incident types. We are: