An Accident with an Uninsured Driver Is Salt in Your Wounds

On Behalf of | Jan 10, 2018 | Car Accidents

Perhaps you were in the hospital when you learned that the driver responsible for your accident did not have auto insurance. This news may have felt as if someone crashed into you a second time. Colorado and nearly all other states in the country mandate auto insurance for every driver, so what happens when one driver without insurance breaks the law?

What is uninsured motorist coverage?

Colorado does not require drivers to have coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists. You are fortunate if you had the foresight to buy uninsured motorist coverage with your insurance policy. This part of your policy kicks in when you file a claim after an accident with someone who did not carry the required insurance.

Having this extra auto insurance policy may cover the following:

  • Bodily injury in an accident with an uninsured motorist
  • Property damage in an accident with an uninsured motorist
  • Bodily injury in an accident with an underinsured motorist
  • Property damage in an accident with an underinsured motorist
  • Bodily injury whether the other driver is uninsured or underinsured

Since Colorado is an at-fault state, if the other driver was responsible for the crash, his or her insurance company should have covered your damages. However, having uninsured motorist coverage in an at-fault state may be especially valuable. Uninsured motorist coverage picks up the slack when the other driver’s insurance does not cover your full medical expenses.

Seeking benefits from your insurance company

Filing a claim through your underinsured/uninsured motorist policy should be simple if you are using it after an accident with an irresponsible driver. However, simplicity is not common when working with insurance companies, and your provider may be reluctant to make a fair payment on your claim. While you recover from the injuries you suffered in the accident, you do not need one more setback, such as a denied uninsured motorist claim.

To maximize the success of your claim, you may wish to exercise your right to seek legal counsel. An attorney with experience dealing with the complex issues within insurance companies can be the right advocate for your insurance issues.

Attorney Chadwick P. McGrady at his desk