Uninsured And Under-insured Motorists

Have You Been In An Auto Accident With An Uninsured Or Underinsured Driver?

Your auto accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist left you frightened and confused about the future. Added to your suffering and trauma is the additional anxiety of whether you can recover adequate compensation for your injuries. Fortunately, your situation is not as dire as it might appear.

If you comply with Illinois law, you already carry uninsured motorist insurance as a part of your automobile policy without even realizing it. You’re covered for uninsured motorist claims.

Balke & Williams Helps Crystal Lake and Warrenville, IL Clients Like You With Claims Involving Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers

Anytime you are in a car accident with someone who cannot be identified (a “hit-and-run”) or someone who lacks adequate automobile insurance coverage, you may have an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim.

At Balke & Williams, we have handled numerous uninsured/underinsured motorist claims for clients across McHenry County and can answer all of your questions. We have a proven record of securing just compensation for clients in this situation.

If you are in an accident with someone uninsured or inadequately insured, call us. Do not speak to your or any other insurance company without talking to a lawyer first. This mistake is often the easiest way to hurt your case.

Are You Already Covered For Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers?

In Illinois, you are legally required to carry coverage for uninsured motorists (“UM” coverage). Unless you are in violation, you are already covered for accidents with uninsured motorists.

Specifically, Illinois law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance for injury, death and property damage as the result of a car crash in the amounts of:

• $25,000 for injury or death of one person
• $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person
• $20,000 for property damage of another person

While these minimum requirements are more than some other states require, they are often not enough to cover the costs of a serious accident. For this reason, it’s a good idea to purchase a higher level of uninsured motorist (“UM”) coverage and underinsured motorist (“UIM”) coverage, which protects you and your family when you’re involved in an accident with a driver who only carries only the minimum required policy limits.

Another supplementary or optional insurance that provides more comprehensive coverage is Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD). UMPD provides payment for damage to your vehicle by an uninsured driver or an at-fault driver flees the accident scene or denies fault.

The minimum-required uninsured motorist coverage (UM) helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage, but it may not cover their full extent. A higher level of UM coverage, including underinsured insurance coverage (UIM), will help bridge the gap by also covering supplemental medical expenses such as therapy or rehabilitation and additional lost wages beyond the time of recovery from your injury.

While insurance claims and recovery are complex, if you’re carrying Illinois’s legally required insurance coverage, you are entitled to recover damages from an accident where the other driver is at fault. The amount you are entitled to depends upon the level of insurance coverage you have. In any event, you are, at the very least, entitled to some compensation for injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact Balke & Williams To Learn What Compensation You’re Entitled To

If you’ve been in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, be careful what you do next. Speak with uninsured motorist accident lawyers you can trust before contacting or communicating with an insurance company. An insurance company’s primary goal is to diminish the legitimacy of your claim and the compensation you receive. You may inadvertently or unknowingly say something they can use later to limit your recovery.

The good news is Balke & Williams have years of experience in this area of law. They can negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company to get you the just compensation you deserve. Schedule a free strategy session today to learn how you can prevail in your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.