Driving without adequate insurance is illegal in most states, including Mississippi. Yet, still, many drivers hit the road without carrying the required coverage. When these drivers are involved in accidents, the people they hit are often left on the hook to pay for their own damages. If this happened to you, do not hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer in Southaven, MS.
Even if you have uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance, it is likely that your insurance company will work to pay for as little of your damages as possible. Working with a law firm, like Gatti, Keltner, Bievenu & Montesi PLC can help you recover the maximum amount of compensation possible. Use the contact form on this page to learn more about how we can help.
What Happens When You Are Hit by an Uninsured Driver?
The minutes, hours, and days following a car accident are sure to be chaotic. This is more so true when the person who caused the crash does not have adequate auto insurance coverage. Your auto insurance may kick in to pay for some of the damages, but what if you do not have insurance that covers accidents you did not cause?
Well, if you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, your chances of recovering compensation in this situation are much higher. Though, without an attorney, you may struggle to get all of what you deserve.
When you are hit by an uninsured driver, they still maintain liability, but if they have no funds available to purchase insurance, they are unlikely to have the means to pay for the damage they have caused. This leaves uninsured and underinsured motorist claims as your only real chance of recovering the compensation you need to repair your vehicle, pay medical bills, and deal with other outcomes of the accident.
How Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance Works
Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance policies provide coverage that protects you in the instance that you are in an accident with someone who does not have enough liability coverage to pay for your damages. Quite often, these policies limit the amount of time you have to file a claim, with some only allowing claims to be made within as little as thirty days of the incident. This means it is incredibly important to submit your claim as soon as possible.
It is also important to note that your uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance usually will not exceed the total coverage of your standard liability insurance. This means drivers with $50,000 in total liability coverage per accident will be unable to carry any more than $50,000 worth of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Keep in mind that this coverage does not cover all of your damages. Usually, you will also need to purchase add-on coverage to get uninsured and underinsured motorist property damage coverage if you want to have damage to your vehicle covered as well.
Stacking Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance
Where the accident happened is an important aspect of filing an uninsured and underinsured motorist claim. For example, Mississippi has laws that allow members of households with more than one uninsured and underinsured motorist policy to stack the coverage. This means the total coverage amount across the entire household can be applied to pay for damages following an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
As an example, imagine a household of three people all carry uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance policies that cover up to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Thanks to Mississippi law, these three policies can be stacked if a family member is involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. This allows coverage of up to $75,000 per person and $150,000 per accident.
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What Damages Are Covered by Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
An uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance policy covers the same damages that would be covered by a liability insurance policy. Namely, they offer the insured the option to recover economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost work opportunities
- Emotional distress
What compensation you stand to recover depends on the unique circumstances of your claim. Though, always keep in mind that insurance companies are working for profit. Therefore, they will always push to minimize the amount they pay to claimants.
To avoid having your claim denied or lowballed, work with a Southaven, MS uninsured and underinsured motorist claim lawyer.
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Why You Need an Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claim Lawyer in Southaven, MS
It may seem simple — you have uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance, so just file a claim, and you will get the amount of compensation you deserve. While this does occur in some cases, it is more likely that the insurance company will do its best to pay you nothing or a minimal amount.
By having a lawyer engage with the insurance company on your behalf, you can ensure that your rights are being upheld at every stage of the claims process. Do not simply trust the insurance company to provide you with the benefits you paid for. Their goal is to secure their bottom-line profit, which means not paying their customers exactly what they deserve.
An experienced lawyer knows this, and they are equipped to confront the insurance companies during negotiations. Rather than trusting the insurance company, depend on a Southaven, MS uninsured and underinsured motorist claim lawyer to realize any insurance coverage you have available for your injuries and property damage.
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You Deserve Effective Legal Counsel for Your Uninsured Motorist Claim
There is no reason to get less than what you deserve from your uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance policy. Still, the insurance company’s main goal is to make sure that you get less. Take control of the situation by hiring a Southaven, MS uninsured and underinsured motorist claim attorney.
Gatti, Keltner, Bievenu & Montesi PLC has been fighting for their clients’ rights for more than four decades. You can depend on us to help you acquire a fair and reasonable insurance settlement. Do not wait to contact us; there is usually a time limit associated with filing an uninsured and underinsured motorist claim.
Fill out the contact form on this page to get in touch with an attorney and schedule a free consultation.