When you’re in a vehicle collision, it’s bad enough that you have to deal with insurance claims, car repairs, and medical bills. What makes matters worse is when the at-fault driver has no insurance to cover the costs of repairs or medical bills that their negligent actions caused.
Although Illinois law requires all drivers to maintain minimum insurance policy limits, there are still some motorists who are uninsured or underinsured. A driver’s lack of insurance coverage can have devastating consequences on your finances. The last thing you want is to have to pay out of your own pocket for the reckless actions of another person.
Most auto accident cases are resolved through the involved parties’ insurance companies. So, when the driver who caused your crash is uninsured, what can you do?
If you’ve found yourself in a vehicle collision with a motorist who doesn’t have insurance, a Chicago uninsured motorist lawyer may be able to help. At Thomas Law Offices, consultations with our attorneys are free. So, if you want to discuss your case and your rights with a knowledgeable legal professional, we’re just an email or phone call away.
Vehicle insurance is not only important to have as protection in case of an accident but is also required of all motorists in Illinois. According to the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State, all vehicles registered and operated in the state must be covered by liability insurance, which covers property damage and injuries that you may cause others to sustain.
Those minimum requirements are:
Additionally, Illinois liability insurance policies automatically include uninsured motorist coverage at the legal minimum requirements for bodily injury or death ($25,000/$50,000). This means that if another driver causes your wreck and has no insurance, you can potentially file a claim with your own auto carrier to recover compensation for some of your accident-related damages.
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If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of being involved in a car accident, you may come to realize that the at-fault driver has no insurance, or perhaps they do have insurance, but the policy they have isn’t enough to cover the damages and injuries they caused. This is what’s called an underinsured motorist, and it is different from an uninsured motorist in a variety of ways. Both types of coverage are important for different reasons.
This coverage is automatically included in auto insurance policies in Illinois. However insureds can reject any uninsured motorist limits in excess of the aforementioned guidelines.
When you have this as part of your policy, you can file a claim with your own insurance in the event that the at-fault driver has no insurance or if your accident is a hit-and-run where the motorist who caused your crash is not available to gather information from or take legal action against.
According to data from the Insurance Information Institute (III), approximately 16.3% of all drivers in Illinois are uninsured, despite there being mandatory minimum liability auto insurance requirements in place, which is all the more reason you should verify with your auto carrier that your policy covers you in situations like these.
Although this addition to your policy is also important and can prove valuable when you’re in an accident, a lot of drivers choose not to secure underinsured motorist coverage. Most motorists may decide not to purchase this because they don’t think they’ll be in a car accident, or they believe that, if they are, the other drivers’ policies will cover their crash-related damages.
However, if you’re involved in a serious collision and you end up getting rushed to the emergency room in an ambulance with a suspected severe injury that might require scans or surgery, you’ll quickly surpass that minimum $25,000 in bodily injury coverage mentioned previously. Additionally, if your car sustains major damages, especially if it’s a new vehicle, that $20,000 minimum for property damage might quickly be exhausted as well.
This is why it’s best to check with your insurance provider and ensure that you have the necessary coverage for the worst-case scenarios. Having underinsured motorist coverage through your own insurance can compensate for whatever costs and damages that the at-fault driver’s insurer cannot cover.
If you’ve been in a crash with a driver who fled the scene or had inadequate insurance or none at all, and you’re wondering what your options are, reach out to Thomas Law Offices. We may ask you to secure your insurance rider before attending an initial case review with a Chicago uninsured motorist lawyer in our office. This will make it easier for us to determine what type of coverage you have so we can properly advise you of your legal options if you suffered serious injuries in a crash.
You have enough on your plate. Get a free case evaluation and clear answers from our experienced attorneys today — we’ll take it from here.
Any accident can be devastating and leave you with a strong sense of uncertainty as to how to move forward. This is where an uninsured motorist lawyer is essential to you and your claim. Legal representation is available to help you hold those at fault responsible for their actions and get you the compensation you deserve.
Insurance providers are notorious for denying and underpaying claims. Unfortunately, uninsured motorist claims are no different. Having an experienced attorney on your side who understands the tactics insurers pull as well, as the ins and outs of filing uninsured or underinsured motorist cases, will only give you a stronger chance of attaining a favorable outcome to your claim.
At Thomas Law Offices, we can assist you by:
Our law firm understands firsthand how much of a financial, emotional, and physical toll that crashes with motorists who don’t have insurance can be. A Chicago uninsured motorist lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and aid you in restoring some sense of normalcy to your life. Don’t hesitate – contact our Chicago office today for your free consultation.
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