Illinois and Missouri Car Accident Attorney
If you were seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident or in an accident with a driver without any auto insurance, you may be wondering how you can cope with all of the financial and emotional burdens caused by the accident. Or you may be upset because the driver who hit you has only the minimum coverage required and your damages far exceed that amount. In many cases, you can seek compensation from your own auto insurance company under your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Unless you purchased the cheapest, most basic form of car insurance, you are probably covered in accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers. However, most insurers will only pay on uninsured / underinsured claims if you were not at fault in any way for the accident. Most insurers will also dispute the extent of your damages and the amount you are entitled to for medical expenses, wage loss, pain, suffering, disability and other losses. In the case of an accident with an underinsured motorist, your insurer may argue that your losses do not exceed the amount of the other driver’s coverage.
At the Johnston Law Offices, our attorney enters into litigation against insurers who are clearly guilty of bad faith insurance practices involving underinsured / uninsured motorist coverage.
In many cases, involving a lawyer may be enough to convince your insurer to honor your policy terms and compensate you for your losses. If your insurer is unwilling to honor the terms of your policy, contact Johnston Law Offices today to discuss your case.
How Much Can I Recover Under Uninsured / Underinsured Coverage?
If the cost of medical treatment, lost wages, and property damage exceeds the policy limits of the driver that hit you, you can recover some or the entire remaining amount from your insurer. For example, suppose the total damage to you and your car equal $100,000. Suppose further that the driver that hit you was only insured for $50,000 in liability. Under the terms of your underinsured / uninsured motorist coverage, you are eligible to recover all or a portion of the difference – in this case, up to $50,000.
Why Is My Insurance Company Investigating the Accident?
Insurance companies are in business to make money. The last thing they want is to pay claims when they don’t have to. Since most underinsured / uninsured motorist coverage applies to accidents where you are not more at fault than the other driver, your insurer may be looking for anything it can use to deny or dispute your claim. Unfortunately, the police do not always file a report and, when they do, the facts as they present them may be ambiguous.
For instance, suppose you were involved in a rear-end collision due to the car in front of you suddenly applying its brakes. The police report may indicate that, even though you did not cause the accident, you were following too closely. Even if you weren’t ticketed, you insurer may deny your claim and argue that you were partially at fault.
We’re Here to Fight for Our Clients
If your insurance company has denied your claim or won’t commit to honoring it, read the terms of your policy carefully. Next, keep a record of any communications between you and your insurer. Once you have documentation of delays or contradictory information on the part of your insurer, contact our attorneys. If necessary, we will conduct our own investigation and contact the State’s Attorney General Office, as well as the Insurance Commissioner to alert them to bad faith insurance practices on the part of your insurer.
We have the experience and knowledge needed to leverage your case and get the attention of your insurer. To schedule a free consultation, contact Johnston Law Offices today.
