If you’ve had an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured, it is important to contact an experienced Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney today. After being involved in a car accident, you would expect to exchange information with the other driver. But sometimes, the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. This means they do not have enough insurance to cover all of your damages. Hit and run accidents can also be considered an Uninsured / Underinsured motorist case. Usually, after a hit and run, the at-fault driver either has insufficient insurance or cannot be identified, rendering them uninsured. Contact a Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney immediately after you have been involved in an accident.
Most states have mandatory laws for drivers to carry liability insurance. But a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) reported that almost 13 percent of all drivers don’t have liability insurance. Therefore, there are ample cases where the victim of an accident is left to pay for their medical expenses and losses because the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Don’t panic if you or someone you love was involved in a major accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. In the case that your insurance company doesn’t offer full and fair compensation, you can file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorneys.
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Laws in Colorado
After being seriously injured in a car accident, you expect the negligent driver will have adequate insurance to cover your medical expenses and losses. Too often, the victims’ losses are beyond the negligent driver’s insurance policy limits. In such cases, you may be eligible to seek supplemental compensation through your insurance. This would be applicable under your Uninsured / Underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy. The Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-4-609 protects people injured in car accidents by uninsured or underinsured motorists.
Colorado law also requires drivers to maintain a minimum bodily injury liability insurance coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000. However, sometimes after suffering serious injuries, these minimums are not enough to fairly compensate you for your injuries, damages, or losses.
Many vehicle operators disregard the law and choose to drive without insurance. Under Colorado law, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured and underinsured coverage (UM/UIM) to all policyholders.
Colorado law poses a time limit for those who have suffered injuries in a car accident to file a lawsuit. This period, known as the statute of limitations (SOL), is three years. So anyone who has suffered injuries or losses in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence has three years to take action after the accident.
What Should I Do After an Accident with a Denver Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist?
The moments immediately after a car crash are crucial. You should collect evidence and speak to any witnesses on the scene to gather evidence for your future claim. If you have serious injuries, your top priority should be to seek medical attention. If you can maneuver around the scene without pain or worsening an injury, take these steps:
- Call the police and report the accident.
- Take photographs of any injuries, damages to your car, the at-fault party’s car, and the area surrounding the incident.
- Exchange contact information with the other driver and any witnesses nearby who saw the accident happen.
- Do not accept any form of payment from the uninsured driver. You will not know the full extent or cost of your injuries at this point. You do not want to accept a lower settlement than what you deserve.
Sometimes uninsured or underinsured motorists will flee the scene. If you are involved in a hit and run,
- Do not chase after the drier
- Write down as much information as you can gather
- Take photographs
After you call the police and receive any necessary medical treatment, contact Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorneys as soon as possible.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Insurance
Although insurance companies are legally required to offer Uninsured / Underinsured motorist coverage, it is optional. If a driver decides not to accept this type of coverage, they must do so in writing. If you never gave a formal written rejection of UM/UIM to your insurance company, you probably still have this type of coverage.
If you have any questions regarding your UM/UIM coverage, you can reach out to your insurance company and review your policy. Since Colorado is an at-fault state, injured parties can file claims against the at-fault driver’s insurer. If the at-fault driver’s insurance is not sufficient to cover your damages, your insurance company can handle the difference. This also applies in hit-and-run incidents.
Contact your insurance company to file a UM/UIM claim after being involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. If you did not opt-out of your UM/UIM coverage, this process should be relatively smooth. If, however, you rejected UM/UIM coverage, or your UM/UIM coverage does not fully cover your damages, you may need to seek legal counsel. In this case, you should contact a Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney to assess your next steps properly. An experienced Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney from our team will discuss all of your legal options and decide which will serve your best interest.
Protect Your Right to Full Compensation
It may be tempting to settle with the at-fault driver’s insurance company after being injured in an accident. However, this could jeopardize a victim’s right to recover additional compensation under Uninsured / Underinsured motorist policy. Before accepting any settlement offer, it is important to speak with an experienced Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney.
Common Issues with Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Claims
Even if you are covered under UM/UIM, insurance companies may still attempt to minimize your claim to avoid losses. It is usually not in the insurance company’s best interest to offer full coverage from a financial standpoint. Consequently, they often offer settlements that are worth far less than the actual victim’s entitlement. Insurance companies may even try to minimize the severity of your injuries or question the validity of medical bills. They will generally employ tactics to avoid having to pay full settlements. But this is acting in bad faith and can be considered breaking the law. Sometimes insurance claim processes become complicated. Our Denver Uninsured / Underinsured attorneys can ensure you receive your rightful compensation.
Contact a Denver Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Attorney
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If you’ve been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, contact our Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorneys as soon as possible.
With a combination of a proven track record, impressive financial resources, esteemed legal reputation and a compassionate approach, we believe there is no better Denver Uninsured / Underinsured motorist attorney team than us.
