When the other driver in an auto accident is underinsured

Being involved in a motor vehicle accident causes many problems for all parties. As such, most people are willing to follow the laws that govern safe driving. Unfortunately, there are still some motorists sharing our Illinois roads that engage in negligent behaviors. As we all know, this can lead to an auto accident.

In a perfect world, the at-fault party in a motor vehicle accident has adequate insurance to cover property damage as well as physical injuries. However, we all know that our world is far from perfect. All too often, the victim gets the shaft in uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents.

Fortunately, these victims are not completely without options. Sometimes, the victim’s own insurance may help cover property damage and any medical bills associated with accident injuries. This option is somewhat rare, however, because the insurance premiums for this kind of coverage are costly.

Adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to your own policy is another option, but this will only help if you have not already had an accident. For the sake of this blog post, let’s assume you have already been involved in an accident, the at-fault driver does not have adequate coverage and you do not have underinsured motorist coverage. What can you do?

Contact an attorney immediately. A lawyer knows how to maximize your compensation by exploring all of the legal options at your disposal. A large part of this involves negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf to increase your compensation. Litigation is also often a consideration in uninsured/underinsured motorist accidents.

The consequences of being involved in an accident with an underinsured motorist can be very significant. Increase your knowledge on the subject today by reading more about this topic on our website.