Few situations in life are more stressful than a car accident, and this can multiply tenfold when you’ve been struck by a driver who is underinsured. While many responsible motorists carry uninsured driver coverage, few choose to purchase underinsured motorist coverage, which can be an extremely costly decision.
Protecting yourself and your financial interests is a key part of owning a car, and that includes carrying underinsured motorist coverage. Learn more about the importance of having underinsured motorist coverage, and find out when you should hire an Odessa car accident lawyer.
The Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage
When considering purchasing underinsured motorist coverage, many people want to know how it differs from uninsured motorist coverage. Generally, the difference between the two is in terms of taking your claim to court.
For example, uninsured motorist coverage protects you after you’ve been hit by a driver without insurance. Because a driver without car insurance usually doesn’t have any other resources, you rely on your uninsured driver coverage to fund your repairs instead of taking the uninsured motorist to court.
Underinsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, is designed for situations where another driver strikes your car and doesn’t have an insurance policy sufficient your damage. If you’ve been in an accident caused by an underinsured driver, you would file a claim with your insurance company, provided that your underinsured coverage is higher than the other driver’s policy.
It is important to note, however, that both of these types of insurance coverage depend on the other driver being at fault in your accident.
Filing a Claim
When filing a claim for an accident involving an uninsured drive, speed is paramount in receiving the compensation that you need. As soon as you’re aware that the other driver is uninsured, you will need to alert your insurance company about the situation. If you take longer than thirty days to file your claim, you will most likely face a denial and have to pay your expenses out of pocket.
Unfortunately, when you’ve suffered an accident caused by an underinsured driver, you may not realize they’re underinsured until some time has passed. When your medical and car repair bills pile up and the other driver’s insurance fails to cover them, you are usually dealing with an underinsured driver. As soon as you decide to file an underinsured driver’s claim, make sure to notify your insurance company.
Underinsured motorist claims will unfold in a similar manner to standard insurance claims, which means you should consider hiring an Odessa car accident lawyer. The right attorney will be able to handle everything involved in your claim, including pretrial investigations and negotiating with the insurance company.
Hire an Odessa Car Accident Lawyer
Being involved in an accident with an underinsured motorist can take an extremely emotional and financial toll. If you’re weighing your legal options after such an accident, then you need the advice of an Odessa car accident lawyer like Robert White, Attorney at Law.
Robert White, Greta Braker, and the entire team at Braker White are committed to helping you file your underinsured motorist claim so that you get the compensation that you need and deserve. Ask us how wee can help you with your car accident case.
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