Beverly Hills Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

Beverly Hills Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorney

Car accidents are expensive. The more serious the accident, the greater the costs. In theory, when an accident isn’t our fault, the other driver’s insurance should help cover our costs. Unfortunately, there are many drivers out there who either don’t have insurance or carry a minimum policy that won’t provide enough payout to cover all the costs that are associated with an accident.

In these cases, though, there is the possibility that you can make an uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist claim against your policy if you have such coverage. However, as with all things insurance-related, the companies are often loath to pay out what they rightfully should. The process for filing a UM/UIM claim is also a particularly complex one, and they will often use any mistake in that process to reject it. If you work with an experienced legal team like Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, you can be sure that the process can be followed correctly in Beverly Hills, CA. With us, you can have someone ready to stand up to the insurance company and fight for what you’re owed.

Uninsured Motorist

These are drivers who don’t have any insurance of any sort. While it is possible to file a direct claim against these motorists, they don’t typically have much in the way of assets that could be used to compensate for your injuries. Usually, the only option left will be to file an uninsured motorist claim on your policy.

Underinsured Motorist

You run into the situation of an underinsured motorist when the cost of the accident exceeds the other driver’s insurance limits. For instance, many car accidents can have costs that extend well into six figures. However, California minimums are $15,000 per person and $30,000 total. If you have a high-limit policy yourself, and the accident that the other driver caused is worth $100,000 for you, then you can collect the $15,000 from the other driver’s policy and file a UIM claim against your policy for the other $85,000.

Hit and Run

In hit and run cases, it is fairly common that the fleeing driver is never discovered. In these cases, you may treat the situation as an uninsured motorist and file a UM claim on your policy.

FAQs About Beverly Hills, CA Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accident Laws

Does Collecting on an Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist Policy Raise My Rates?

The policies will not see increased rates if you file a claim against them. For you to successfully file a claim, you must show that the other driver was at fault. You can’t be held responsible for an accident that is not your fault. You also can’t be held responsible for the other driver not having any or enough insurance. Having gotten into an accident with a driver who did not have any or enough insurance can’t be argued as predictive of something similar occurring in the future. For all these reasons, you won’t see a rate increase if you make this kind of claim.

How Can a Lawyer Help With an Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist Claim?

The reason to work with a lawyer in these situations is that the process to file an uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist claim can often be complex. If you are unfamiliar with it, you could very easily make a mistake. Don’t expect your insurance company to be of much help, either, because a mistake by you could mean that they can reject your claim and not be made to pay you the compensation that you’re owed. When you work with a car accident lawyer, like those at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, you can have trustworthy, dedicated representation. They can be sure that all the legal procedures are followed correctly. Their knowledge, skill, and tenacity can be a powerful advantage for you if the insurance company attempts to deny your claim.

How Could an Insurance Company Deny My Claim?

Even if you have a rightful claim against your UM/UIM policy, that doesn’t mean that your insurance company might not make an attempt to deny it. Insurance companies aren’t eager to pay out what they owe, as that will likely hurt their profits. Some of the ways that they could attempt to deny a claim include:

• Deny that you have proper coverage.
• Claim that you were at least partially at fault for the accident.
• Deny the cost of future medical care.
• Try to deny that the injuries came from the accident and are the result of pre-existing conditions.
• Deny that a hit and run incident ever occurred.
• Claim that some of your medical expenses weren’t necessary or were too expensive.
• Not giving proper valuation to things like pain and suffering or other non-quantifiable costs.

Working with a skilled, experienced lawyer can be essential to standing up to these accusations as you seek to win your claim.

Can I Sue the Other Driver Directly?

It is possible to file a claim against the other driver directly and go after their personal assets. The problem with this avenue is that, in many cases, uninsured and underinsured motorists tend to not have much in the way of personal assets. It’s hard to get the compensation that you need from an empty bag.

We Can Help You If You’ve Been in an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist

An accident that was caused by someone who is uninsured or underinsured is never a very good situation to be in. It doesn’t mean, though, that you need to lose all hope. There are options available to you, particularly filing a UM/UIM claim against your own insurance. The process can be confusing and difficult, but our team at Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, understands the process well and can help navigate your claim through it. We can also push back against any accusations and attempts to deny your claim that an insurance company may make. Ultimately, if the case must be addressed in court, we can represent you there as well. Don’t wait to contact us to review your case.