Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims involve motor vehicle accidents where the at fault driver does not carry enough insurance to fully compensate the injured plaintiff. An uninsured or underinsured motorist claim involves the injured person seeking compensation through their own automobile insurance carrier for the injuries suffered. The extent of the recovery available is defined by the amount of coverage purchased.
According to a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council in 2000, 13% of drivers on the roadway are uninsured. This figure does not reflect those drivers carrying the minimum coverage allowed under Illinois law. In Illinois, no person may operate, register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy. No insurance policy may be issued in an amount less than $20,000.00 for bodily injury to or death of any one person in a motor vehicle accident and for a limit of not less than $40,000.00 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one motor vehicle accident. In other words, many drivers in the State of Illinois carry policies of insurance that provide payment in the amount of $20,000.00 for the death of a person resulting from the negligence of that insured driver in an automobile collision. Even if a person were to suffer severe personal injury and incur medical expenses exceeding $500,000.00, the limit of compensation available from that negligent driver’s insurer may be limited to $20,000.00.
Given the failure of many drivers in the State of Illinois to carry the required insurance coverage as well as the limited coverage carried by many additional drivers, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims are common. Uninsured/underinsured motorist claims involve a review of those issues common to all motor vehicle accidents including the liability of the defendant driver, the conduct of all parties involved in the collision, the injuries suffered and medical care received by the injured party as well as the coverage underwritten on behalf of the at fault driver. An uninsured/underinsured motorist claim further involves a review of the policy of insurance underwritten on behalf of the injured party to determine what compensation, if any may be available. If you were hurt by an uninsured or underinsured driver, our personal injury lawyers in Chicago are available to evaluate your uninsured/underinsured motorist claim. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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