Wilmington Uninsured Motorist Lawyer

All drivers in North Carolina are required by law to carry liability coverage that will pay for other injured people’s bodily injuries after an accident the insured causes. Nevertheless, roughly 10 percent of drivers in North Carolina do not have insurance. If you get into a wreck with an uninsured driver in Wilmington, they will not have liability coverage to pay for your injuries. Instead, you could use your own auto policy’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.

Uninsured motorist claims can bring their own unique legal challenges, even though you are dealing with “your” insurer. The law firm of Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, is equipped to manage these difficulties and can help you pursue your uninsured motorist claim for the maximum compensation you deserve.

If you have sustained harm due to an uninsured driver, you should not be left alone to shoulder the burden of their irresponsible behavior. We can stand up for your rights and help you seek the benefits you deserve from a UM claim.

Contact us online or call today to speak to an uninsured motorist accident attorney in Wilmington. The consultation is free and confidential.

Steps to Take After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver

After receiving necessary medical attention, start documenting the accident scene with pictures and videos. If they are still there, get the uninsured driver’s contact information and get a copy of the police accident report from the responding officer. See a doctor and get copies of any medical records regarding your injury.

In a typical auto claim, that is the point where you and your attorney would contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company. With an uninsured motorist claim, you instead report the accident to your own insurance company. You should consult with our attorneys before filing to make your claim as strong as possible.

Legal Rights and Potential Compensation for Uninsured Motorist Victims in Wilmington

Aside from the fact that the claim runs through your insurer, uninsured motorist claims generally proceed similarly to other auto insurance claims. You open a claim with your insurance company, they investigate, and then they decide on a settlement offer, if any. Your attorney can gather evidence to prove your lack of fault and the extent of your injuries, like photos, video recordings, medical documentation, and eyewitness testimony.

Depending on your circumstances, we can pursue compensation for your:

• Emergency medical bills and continuing medical expenses
• Lost work income and other employment compensation
• Reduced lifetime earning capacity due to disability
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Diminished enjoyment of life

What about if you do not have uninsured motorist coverage? If you do not have UM insurance coverage, your options for financial recovery after a car accident are restricted, but you might still have options. You can file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver, but their ability to pay may be limited. It is also possible that a third party could bear responsibility for the crash. Our Wilmington car accident attorneys are ready to analyze your unique situation from every angle to determine all available strategies to seek compensation.

Why You Need a Lawyer for a UM Claim

Your insurance company handles UM claims, but that does not mean they will necessarily treat you favorably and automatically pay out the full settlement you deserve. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and any claim they pay cuts into their profits. Insurance companies are notorious for delaying and denying claims to minimize payouts. They might argue you were at fault for the accident or dispute your medical bills and injury severity.

An attorney from Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, can push back against insurance company tactics and fight to secure fair compensation for your losses. We can negotiate if insurers give you a lowball offer, or pursue formal litigation if they refuse to pay. We can also investigate other potential options for recovering additional compensation, such as third-party lawsuits.

About Uninsured Motorist Coverage in North Carolina

North Carolina uses a fault-based insurance system for car accidents. Under at-fault rules, the person who caused the accident pays for the injuries of other people involved through their liability insurance.

To facilitate this system, North Carolina law requires all drivers to carry the following minimum amounts of liability insurance:

• $30,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
• $60,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more people
• $25,000 in property liability coverage

Of course, despite the law, not all drivers carry insurance, whether for financial reasons, poor judgment, or simple oversight. Fortunately, the North Carolina legislature anticipated that many people would drive without insurance and made uninsured motorist coverage mandatory. All auto liability policies come with uninsured motorist coverage equal to the liability limits.

That means if you have a standard auto policy in North Carolina, you already have uninsured motorist coverage. If an uninsured driver causes an accident that injures you, your auto insurance policy’s UM coverage can step in and pay for your medical bills, lost income, and other injury-related losses. Uninsured motorist coverage also applies to hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver flees the scene.

Additionally, NC law requires auto insurance companies to provide underinsured motorist coverage. UIM coverage can kick in if the at-fault driver lacks sufficient coverage to pay for your losses. Underinsured motorist coverage is often needed if the at-fault driver only carries the minimum required liability limits.

Common Scenarios Involving Uninsured Motorists in Wilmington

Below are some examples of scenarios where uninsured motorist insurance coverage would be relevant.

• A driver crashes into your car and admits they do not carry liability coverage.
• A driver commits a hit-and-run and leaves the scene without giving their insurance information.
• A driver hits your parked car and leaves without providing their insurance information.
• An uninsured motorist crashes into you and injures a passenger in your vehicle.
• You are crossing the street at a crosswalk and an uninsured driver strikes you after running a red light.

Contact Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, for Help with Your UM Claim

Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, has extensive experience managing uninsured motorist car insurance claims in North Carolina. We are ready to work to protect your interests and well-being. We will not rest until we have exhausted every avenue toward a satisfactory resolution.

Contact us online or call our offices today to speak to a Wilmington uninsured motorist car accident lawyer.