Although 49 states and the District of Columbia require drivers to carry liability insurance that covers minimum amounts for property damage and personal injuries, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) reports that about 13 percent of drivers are still uninsured. And many people who are insured carry only the minimum limits required by law. In Illinois, car owners are only required to have $20,000 in coverage for the injury or death of one person, $40,000 for injuries or fatalities suffered by two or more people, and just $15,000 in coverage for property damage. Since most motor vehicle accidents rely on payments from the insurance company to settle the costs, uninsured and underinsured motorists pose a serious problem in Illinois.
Fortunately, if you suffer losses in an uninsured motor vehicle accident, you have legal options to help you recover compensation for damages. The uninsured motorist lawyers at DePaolo & Zadeikis have provided numerous Chicagoans with solutions that have enabled them to collect substantial amounts of money after an accident with an uninsured driver. Give us a call today at 312-263-7560.
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When your car accident injuries are significant and the at-fault driver is underinsured, you may still be able to recover substantial sums of money to cover economic damages like medical bills and lost wages as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering and disfigurement. Similar to uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist insurance (UIM) provides additional coverage when an at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough. It will cover the difference between the other driver’s liability insurance bodily injury limits and the limits for your underinsured motorist policy. Sadly, even when you are filing a claim with your own insurance company, it often takes negotiation by an experienced motor accident lawyer to get results. Our team makes sure the insurance company knows that you are serious about getting treated fairly and, when necessary, we’ll take your case to court to ensure that you get paid.
In Illinois, all motor vehicle insurance policies are required to include coverage for car accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers. Although the coverage minimums are $25,000 for one injured person and $50,000 for two or more injured people, these amounts may not be enough to cover the damages if you are seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. In fact, considering that the total estimated cost of a fatality accident is $1,410,000, and about $70,000 for a non-fatal injury accident, the small minimum coverages will likely barely scratch the surface. Fortunately, there may be other legal options available to help you recover costs.
In some cases, when you are injured in an uninsured motorist accident or in crash where the other driver’s insurance is insufficient, you may be able to recover compensation from third parties who were at least partially responsible for the injuries.
There are a number of situations in which a third party may be liable for damages.
If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, give us a call today at 312-263-7560 for a free, no obligation consultation.