Uninsured Motorist Accident Claims Lawyer
Every driver should understand that California legislation strictly requires them to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. This car insurance is required to ensure that motorists can cover the losses of victims if they cause a collision. Despite the law, a considerable percentage of motorists in our state fail to carry insurance. Let our uninsured motorist accidents law firm explain:
Often, motorists acquire the insurance they initially need to have for licensing purposes. They then allow the policy to lapse because of higher insurance premiums charged in California compared to other states. Even if someone can not afford their insurance, they frequently take the chance and drive anyway. Driving without insurance can lead to serious problems if they cause damage to others on the road.
If you did not cause a collision, you should never have to pay for your losses out-of-pocket. Especially if it's just because someone else broke the law! Too many individuals find themselves in this exact situation when they are in a collision with an uninsured motorist.
Luckily, if this happens to you, a seasoned lawyer can help you. A firm experienced in filing an uninsured motorist accident claim with your own insurance company to pursue coverage of your losses.
Uninsured Motorist Claims In California
If you get hurt by a driver without insurance, you may breathe a sigh of relief when you realize that you have UM insurance coverage. However, your insurance company does not automatically send you a check in this instance. Quite the opposite, in fact, as these claims can be remarkably challenging.
You may know that insurance companies are first and foremost corporations that mostly care about their bottom lines. To maximize their earnings, they try to limit the amount they pay on every claim. You may assume that because you pay your own provider premiums every month, they will be more cooperative and forthcoming with your UM or UIM payment. This is not the case in the majority of circumstances.
The harsh fact is that insurance companies are equally as challenging to deal with when it pertains to their own policyholders. Every dollar they pay on your claim is a dollar out of the insurance company's pockets, so you can expect them to require you to prove your claim entirely and that they will dispute your claim any opportunity they get. It is crucial to have a very experienced UM lawyer form First Law Group managing your claim.
In order to prove your UM claim, you will have to show the following:
- The other driver acted negligently and caused your accident and injuries
- The other motorist had no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover your losses
- The value of your uncovered damages
- You must prove the negligence of the other driver just like any other type of car insurance claim.
This means you must prove:
- The motorist had a duty of care (which is to drive in a reasonably safe way).
- The motorist breached that duty in some way, which might consist of distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, or breaking other traffic laws.
- The driver's breach of the duty resulted in the collision and your injuries.
You must also give evidence of the value of your claim. This may include providing medical bills, pay statements, statements from medical or occupational professionals, and more. Proving responsibility for the crash and the amount of your losses can be more challenging than you think. Our law firm knows how to gather and present the required evidence to support your UM or UIM claim.
How Insurance Companies Challenge UM/UIM Claims
Even if you think you have a totally legitimate claim, you may be shocked when you get an extremely low settlement offer or a downright rejection. Insurance adjusters have many tactics to challenge these claims, including the following:
- Denying that you have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage under your policy.
- Challenging that the other driver was negligent and responsible for the collision.
- Challenging whether a hit and run driver in fact physically hit your vehicle or claim you were responsible for the collision.
- Trying to lower your recovery by claiming you were partly responsible for the accident.
- Attempting to minimize your settlement by disputing the severity of your injuries, the necessity of your medical care, or whether you had to miss work.
- Claiming you could have gotten less expensive medical care elsewhere.
- Doubting whether you need future medical treatment or time off work.
- Doubting the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of your injuries.
- Doubting whether all of your injuries resulted from the accident in question.
When your insurance company protests and makes a lowball offer or rejects your claim, you need a serious advocate that will not back down. At First Law Group, we frequently go up against major insurance companies to discuss the provides our clients deserve, and we will not think twice to file a suit against your insurance company if needed.
At First Law Group, we really care about our community and we are driven by our passion for clients. Our personal injury lawyers in Ontario, California are always available to take your call. For a Free Consultation, call us at (626) 888-8264, or visit our website: FirstLG.com
