Uninsured & Under-Insured Motorists
Like many, you may believe that because Illinois requires drivers to carry liability insurance that the other driver will be insured. But according to the Insurance Research Council, more than 25% of drivers are uninsured. In Illinois, there are an estimated 25 million uninsured drivers. Even if the other driver has liability insurance, he or she may be underinsured. An underinsured motorist has liability insurance that meets the state-required minimum but is not enough to pay for total damages. In Illinois, that minimum is only $20,000.
Protect Yourself & Passengers with UI/UIM Coverage
Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage gives you the peace of mind that you, your loved ones and your passengers receive compensation for injuries that are the result of the negligence of any other driver, even one who is uninsured or underinsured.
When you elect UM/UIM coverage, you are protecting yourself, your family, and your passengers from the risk that the driver who causes an accident does not have adequate insurance to compensate you.
UM/UIM coverage is relatively inexpensive to add to your existing auto policy. Your UM/UIM coverage should equal your Bodily Injury liability limits. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to add UM/UIM coverage for as little as $3–$4 per month for $100,000/$300,000 per person/per accident. Making a claim for benefits will not increase your insurance rates, because you are not at fault for the accident.
Adler & Adler, P.C. recently obtained a $57,000 settlement for a client from his own insurance company. His case is a good example of how UM/UIM coverage protects you against the possibility of being injured by someone without insurance or with inadequate insurance.
In February 2006, Defendant A, an uninsured teenage driver took a joy ride in the car of Defendant B, who had minimum policy limits of $20,000. Our client was walking in a Chicago park, when the teen lost control of the car and ran into him. He suffered an injury to his right shoulder, causing him to lose time from work and to undergo extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, with bills totally more than $9,000.
The accident attorneys at Adler & Adler obtained a default judgment against the teenager, but she had no assets or insurance to pay the judgment. Defendant B’s insurance carrier denied the claim because his car had been stolen. Like most policies, the insurance did not cover a driver who used the car without permission. Our client carried full coverage on his own vehicle, including UM/UIM coverage in the amount of $100,000. His insurance carrier paid the settlement under the UM coverage. Without this coverage, our client could not have obtained any compensation for his injuries.
This case also illustrates other important points. UM/UIM coverage protects you when you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, even if you are not in your car when you are injured. In the case described above, if Defendant B's insurance policy had applied, our client could have collected $20,000 from the Defendant. Our client's insurance company would have paid the remaining balance of $37,000. Without UIM coverage, only $20,000 could be collected.
Do I need a lawyer for a UM/UIM claim?
You need an attorney to protect your legal rights and pursue a full recovery in a UM/UIM claim. Your insurance policy specifies rules for when, how, and if a claim can be made. Failure to comply with those rules can invalidate your coverage and defeat your claim.
24-Hour Hotline: 312.443.1488
Auto accidents aren't limited to business hours! That's why the attorneys at Adler & Adler, P.C. are available 24-hours a day. If you or a friend or family member are injured in a traffic accident, maximize your claim by contacting us immediately through our 24-Hour Hotline: (312) 443-1488. We offer free initial consultations. If we don't recover compensation on your behalf, you don't pay.
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