A common problem the auto accident lawyers at Shapiro, Cohen and Basinger, Ltd. encounter in auto accident cases is when our clients get hit by drivers with no insurance or low insurance limits. You may be seriously injured and have the right to recover substantial damages but if the defendant can’t pay you face the prospect of receiving no compensation.
You can protect yourself to some degree by purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage which should be part of your regular insurance. Uninsured protects you if hit by a totally uninsured driver and underinsured protects you versus low limits drivers. But you need to have high limits for these coverages.
Let’s say you have $50,000 in UM/UIM protection. If you are hit by a negligent driver that has a $20,000 minimum policy your UIM coverage only provides an additional $30,000 in coverage as the driver’s limits are deducted from your limits. What if you suffer a broken leg in the accident, incur $75,000 in medical expenses and are off work for 2 months? A potential $50,000 recovery is not going to cover your out of pocket expenses let alone provide compensation for your pain and suffering.
We suggest that you talk to your insurance agent about raising your UM/UIM limits now. You need to protect yourself and your family. If you need a referral for auto insurance, let us know and we will hook you up.