After a car accident, an injured person in Michigan can recover no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits from their own insurance carrier, regardless of who caused the accident. An injured driver can also pursue financial recovery from the at-fault driver for damages that exceed the statutory cap on PIP benefits. If the other driver did not have insurance or their insurance coverage was insufficient to cover the full extent of their losses, an injured victim may be able to recover compensation from their own insurance company.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist insurance (UM / UIM) provides coverage if you are hurt in a car accident with a driver who did not have car insurance or whose car insurance was insufficient to cover the full extent of your losses. But obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries is not always a straightforward process. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Muth Law, P.C., can evaluate your claim and maximize your financial recovery.

Understanding UM / UIM Coverage

Your liability insurance policy does not apply when you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. Liability insurance only covers injuries you cause to another person or damage you cause to their property. Your liability insurance protects you against losses you cause in an accident but will not cover losses you sustain.

UM / UIM insurance will provide compensation, up to the limits of your insurance policy, for your injuries, property damage, and non-economic losses if the other driver did not have insurance coverage or their insurance coverage was insufficient to cover the full extent of your losses.

What Is an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver?

UM / UIM coverage applies in two situations: (1) when the other driver did not have any automobile insurance; and (2) when the other driver had insurance but it was insufficient to cover the full extent of your losses.

An uninsured driver is someone who has no insurance coverage. If you were injured by an uninsured driver and purchased uninsured motorist coverage, your uninsured motorist policy will provide insurance coverage for your losses up to the limits of your insurance policy.

An underinsured driver has insurance, but their liability insurance coverage is not enough to cover the full extent of your medical bills, economic losses, and compensation for pain and suffering.

What Are Insurance Policy Limits?

Insurance policy limits are the maximum amount your insurance carrier will pay on a claim. When you purchase automobile insurance, you can select your insurance coverage amounts. The coverage amount is the maximum the insurance company will pay on a covered claim. Higher coverage amounts cost more. Because of the cost, some drivers opt to purchase a minimum-limits insurance policy, while others forego insurance coverage entirely.

Claiming Damages Under Your UM / UIM Insurance Coverage

After a car accident, it can take time to determine the nature and extent of your injuries, the value of your claim, and the limits of the other driver’s insurance coverage. Muth Law, P.C. can analyze your situation to determine the compensation you are entitled to receive.

Making an Uninsured Motorist Claim (UM)

If the driver who hit you had no insurance, you can make a claim through your uninsured motorist coverage. Your insurance carrier will pay your claim for damages up to the limit of your UM / UIM insurance policy.

Claims Under Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)

If the driver who caused the accident had insurance but their coverage amount was insufficient to pay for the full extent of your damages, your underinsured motorist insurance will pay for the portion of your claim that is beyond the policy limits of the other driver’s insurance policy, up to the limits of your policy.

How Much Can I Get From an Uninsured Motorist Claim?

The value of your personal injury claim is determined by the nature and extent of your injuries and the cost of your medical bills. When evaluating an injury claim, the insurance adjuster will assess your claim and make an offer based on medical bills that are related to your injuries. The insurance adjuster’s settlement offer will also include economic losses like lost wages and other expenses you incurred because of injuries you suffered in a car accident.

The insurance adjuster will also evaluate non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. When evaluating your claim for pain and suffering, the insurance adjuster will consider factors such as whether your injuries are:

• Temporary or permanent
• To a single body part or multiple body parts
• Annoying or disabling
• Invisible or disfiguring

When you ask, “How much I can get from an uninsured motorist claim?” consider the effects of your injuries and the frequency and severity of the pain you experience.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a UM/UIM Claim?

You should never “go it alone” when making a UM/UIM claim against your own insurance company, as your particular insurance policy will have specific contractual provisions that you must adhere to in order to collect. An experienced personal injury lawyer can gather the information necessary to prove your claim, present it in a way that will maximize your financial recovery, and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve.

The personal injury lawyers at Muth Law have decades of experience helping people who were hurt in car accidents. We can help maximize your financial recovery and ease your burden so you can focus on your physical recovery and well-being.

Making UM / UIM claim presents unique challenges. Muth Law will carefully analyze your situation, prepare a settlement demand that describes how your life was impacted by the car accident, and work to negotiate a favorable resolution to your claim. If a resolution is not forthcoming, we have the experience, resources, and expertise to file a lawsuit and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Muth Law, P.C. to Maximize Uninsured Motorist Claim Payouts

To learn more about us and the people we represent, contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation. Call us anytime at 743-481-8800, email info@muthlawpc.com, or complete our contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.