Imagine this: you’re on a road trip, singing along to your favorite tunes, the kids chattering excitedly in the backseat about the adventures ahead.
Suddenly, the unexpected happens – a car veers into your lane, causing an accident.
You breath a sigh of relief when everyone is okay, only to find out that the other driver doesn’t have car insurance.
In almost every state and province in North America, drivers are required to carry liability insurance.
However, many purchase only the minimum coverage, and some simply don’t have any insurance at all. For example, about 14% of Texas drivers have no insurance.
To protect against these situations, many drivers purchase uninsured motorist (UM) coverage as a safeguard.
What Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do?
As auto insurance costs rise, more people are driving with inadequate insurance or no insurance at all.
Unfortunately, this comes at a time when accidents are increasing on our roads. Auto accidents can lead to severe injuries and costly medical bills.
UM coverage is designed to relieve your financial burden if you’re in an accident caused by someone without insurance. The policy lets you turn to your own insurance company for compensation.
The uninsured motorist policy generally protects you and your passengers when using the covered vehicle. Insurance providers usually allow clients to choose their coverage limits.
Depending on your policy, UM coverage can pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and car repair expenses.
What Do You Need to File a UM Claim?
To file a UM claim, you will need to contact the insurance company that sold you the policy. The company will require certain proof to process your claim.
First, you must show that another driver caused the accident. Second, you must prove that the driver didn’t have insurance at the time of the accident.
To receive fair compensation, you’ll also need to present strong evidence to show liability, and demonstrate your damages.
If you have been in an accident with an uninsured driver, there are a few important steps you should take:
- Report the incident to the police: Have the police document the accident. The police report can serve as strong evidence in your claim.
- Seek medical attention immediately: Get your family’s injuries checked and treated. Be sure to follow the doctor’s treatment recommendations.
- Report the accident to your insurance company: As soon as possible, let the company know about the incident and your plan to seek compensation.
To build a strong case for your claim, gather as much evidence as possible to prove fault and damages. Photos and videos of the scene can serve as crucial evidence.
Get contact information from witnesses, and follow up with them quickly to obtain statements when the details are still fresh in their minds.
Also, keep all records of expenses related to the accident. These might include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, car repair expenses, and lost wages.
Handling Claims with Children Involved
When an accident leaves you fretting not just over vehicle repairs, but also the wellbeing of your little ones, having the stress of a UM claim as well can feel overwhelming.
Suddenly, you’re not just a parent; you also have to balance medical expenses, insurance adjusters, and potentially lengthy claims negotiations.
Here’s a guide to managing insurance claims with the precious cargo of your family in mind.
- Seek Medical Care: Even if your children don’t have any visible injuries, ensure they are checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. This ensures their health and safety, while also documenting any injuries that may be needed for your uninsured motorist claim.
- Emotional Support is Key: Accidents can be traumatic for children. Offer reassurance, and seek professional counseling if needed to help them cope with any fear or trauma.
- Understand Coverage for Minors: Make sure you fully understand the specifics of your insurance policy regarding minors involved in car accidents. Knowing your rights and benefits in detail will help ensure your children get the best possible support and care.
Dealing With Potential Problems
Unfortunately, while insurance companies are happy to sell the UM policies, they often resist paying claims.
One of their favorite tactics is building exclusions into their policies to void coverage in certain situations. They may even defend the at-fault driver in order to deny or limit your claims.
In that case, you may want to consider a bad faith insurance lawsuit.
Your uninsured motorist policy provider owes you a duty of good faith and fair dealing. If the company wrongfully denies your claim or unreasonably delays compensation, it could be liable for bad faith conduct.
In such cases, consider consulting with a skilled bad faith insurance lawyer to help protect your rights.
Your attorney should be familiar with the tactics that auto insurance providers use to avoid their responsibilities, and can help you file a bad-faith lawsuit.
In these cases, you may be able to recover damages above your policy limit.
Ensuring Family Safety and Financial Stability
As a parent, wanting to protect our children is second-nature, even when that involves challenges like handling an uninsured motorist claim.
Make sure if the worst happens, you’re ready with the knowledge you need, including details on your policy limits, ensuring an accurate accident report, and knowing when to consult a legal professional for help.
By navigating the complexities of a UM claim, we do more than safeguard physical assets; we protect the heartbeat of our lives—our family.