When you get into a car accident, there are so many things to think about. You have pain, injuries, medical treatment, and missed work. To make matters worse, the driver that hurt you may not even have auto insurance. What do you do when the at fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your damages? Well, you may have options, and that’s what this article is all about.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) or Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) in Florida
If the at fault driver in your Orlando car accident or Florida car accident does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your bills, then you need to check to see if your auto insurance policy contains uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage kicks in when the at fault driver in your car accident does not have any auto insurance coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage kicks in when the at fault driver does not have enough coverage to cover your damages. If you find yourself in either of these situations and if you have UM or UIM coverage, your insurance company may cover your damages up to your UM or UIM policy limits. This is true even though the other driver was at fault for the car accident.
UM and UIM coverage should not be necessary, but it often is. Unfortunately, many drivers out there are not carrying sufficient insurance, and that’s why UM and UIM exist. Therefore, even if you’re in an auto accident with a driver that does not have enough insurance to cover your bills, you can seek compensation from your own insurance company.
If you did nothing wrong, you probably will not have to worry about your insurance premium going up after your accident. Thus, if you seek compensation from your UM or UIM coverage, there likely won’t be any penalty to you. So, if you’re the victim of a hit and run accident, for example, and you can’t find the driver that caused you damages, you still may be covered under your UM or UIM policy. This may also be the case if you’re hit by a car while riding a bicycle or a motorcycle, or even if you’re hit by a car while walking.
Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney if the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
An attorney can help you to uncover all the possible insurance policies that could be available to you. Although it may seem that the other driver has no insurance, there may be another person or entity responsible for your injuries. For example, if the vehicle that hit you had a magnet sign on the side of the vehicle advertising a business, there may be a commercial insurance policy available to cover your medical bills and lost wages, or any other damages for that matter. Often times, there are multiple avenues available to seek compensation, and that’s where your Orlando car accident attorney can help you.
In addition to uncovering other insurance policies, your car accident attorney can help you to maximize your claim so that you get can the full amount that you’re entitled to. For example, if you have $20,000 of UM or UIM coverage and the other driver has $10,000 of bodily injury coverage available, then you may have the ability to seek a total of $30,000 from the two insurance policies. The insurance companies want to keep as much money as possible. In other words, they don’t want to pay out claims. However, your Orlando car accident attorney may be able help you get that full $30,000.
Contact an Orlando Car Accident Attorney at Our Law Firm
You can schedule your FREE legal consultation over the phone at (321) 352-7588. Alternatively, you can schedule your free consultation on our website. Once you schedule your consultation with one of our receptionists or online via email, you will get a day and time that you will get to speak to an Orlando car accident attorney from our office.
At our law firm, we only let lawyers do consultations, not intake people or customer service representatives. We believe that lawyers should hear your story and that you deserve to speak to a real attorney if you’ve been hurt. We’re here when you need us.