Although North Carolina has laws requiring motorists to carry auto insurance, too many drivers do not obey them. The Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that around 10 percent of North Carolina drivers are uninsured. So, what should you do if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist or a driver who does not have enough insurance to pay for your losses?
When that happens, you can seek compensation from your insurance provider through uninsured and underinsured motorist claims on your auto policy. However, don’t assume that dealing with “your” auto insurer will make getting the money you need quick or easy. Insurance is a business, and the adjusters handling your UM/UIM claim will look out for their employer’s bottom line – not your best interests.
A North Carolina car accident lawyer with Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, can advocate for you. We work for injured people, not the insurance company. We will stand up for your rights with the primary goal of maximizing your financial compensation from every available source of insurance coverage.
Call us today or contact us online for a free consultation.
Why You Need Our Lawyers for Your UM/UIM Claim
North Carolina is an at-fault insurance state, meaning drivers must carry auto liability insurance coverage to pay for injuries and vehicle damage if they are responsible for a crash. When drivers do not have the required insurance and cause a collision, the people they hurt must turn to their own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in NC. Injured people can also seek underinsured motorist (UIM) benefits when the at-fault driver has insurance, but the policy limits are too low to pay for all the losses.
Since you file UM/UIM claims with your own insurance company, you might think getting a fair settlement should be easy. After all, you pay your premiums, and covering accident claims is what insurance is for. Unfortunately, even your own insurance company will look for reasons to reduce or deny payment to increase their profits.
Engaging our lawyers in the claims process sends the message to the insurance company that you mean business and are prepared to take legal action to get all the money the insurer owes you under your car insurance policy. Hiring our lawyers also gives you the assistance of an experienced legal professional who can build your claim while you focus on healing.
Our North Carolina car accident attorneys will:
- Investigate the accident.
- Prove a hit-and-run driver or a negligent uninsured or underinsured motorist caused the crash.
- Identify and calculate your losses and establish that they exceed the available liability coverage if applicable.
- Prepare and file insurance claims.
- Communicate with insurance adjusters and other parties for you.
- Aggressively negotiate for the maximum compensation possible from all responsible insurance companies.
- Track and manage deadlines.
- File a lawsuit and represent you during a civil trial if necessary.
What Are UM and UIM Claims in North Carolina?
It is vital to understand uninsured vs. underinsured motorist coverage. Claims involving NC uninsured motorist coverage (UM) apply to accidents caused by drivers who do not have any auto liability insurance. Because they have no insurance at all, UM claims ask your insurer to pay for your accident losses.
What is UIM insurance? Underinsured motorist coverage is for accidents where the at-fault driver has liability insurance, but their policy limits do not fully satisfy your losses. Injured parties can file a UIM claim with their insurer to pay for losses that exceed the liable driver’s coverage.
What Are North Carolina’s Car Insurance Requirements?
According to North Carolina law, the minimum insurance requirements for NC are:
- $30,000 in bodily injury liability for injuries or death to one person
- $60,000 in bodily injury liability for injuries or death to two or more people in a single accident
- $25,000 in property damage liability
Do you have to have uninsured motorist coverage? Yes, the law also requires that liability policies include UM coverage equal to the highest amount of bodily injury liability, not to exceed $1 million.
In addition, drivers may choose to add optional policies, including comprehensive or collision coverage, that may pay for vehicle damage caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. If you still owe on your vehicle, your lender may require you to have these types of insurance. Optional medical payments (MedPay) coverage could cover part of your medical bills without regard to fault. Our lawyers can review your policy and help you seek compensation through every available avenue.
Can UM Coverage Apply in a Hit-and-Run Crash?
Uninsured motorist coverage does apply to hit-and-run accidents. The law explicitly states you can file a UM claim for “bodily injury, sickness, or disease, including death,” caused by a hit-and-run driver.
How Our Law Firm Can Help You Maximize Your UM/UIM Recovery
Our law firm can help you navigate every stage of your UM/UIM claim with one primary goal – maximizing your financial recovery. We will use our skills and knowledge to aggressively negotiate on your behalf while protecting you from lowball offers, undue pressure, and bad-faith insurance tactics.
The compensation we will fight to secure may include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income and employment benefits
- Lost future earnings and lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Emotional anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death of a loved one
You should file insurance claims as soon as possible after an accident. Doing so ensures you adhere to policy deadlines. It also provides your lawyer ample time to negotiate a settlement before the three-year window to take legal action expires, which could leave you without options for recovering compensation.
Talk to Our North Carolina Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Attorneys Today
You should not get saddled with the cost of an accident because a negligent motorist decided to break the law and drive without insurance. Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, can help you seek financial justice through an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.
Our car accident attorneys will work tirelessly to prove another driver was at fault for the crash, and you deserve compensation. Our firm has over 40 years of experience representing injury victims. We know what it takes to build a robust claim and support you every step of the way.
Contact us online or call us now to get started with a free consultation.
