CHICAGO UNINSURED MOTORIST LAWYERS

Illinois Auto Accident Attorneys

Any automobile accident can have a devastating impact on your life, but this especially true when someone is involved in a car crash where the driver responsible for the accident is uninsured or under-insured.  The driver responsible for the accident is considered "underinsured" if he or she does not have enough insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries and loss. In underinsured cases, often the person injured has a claim against his own insurance company pursuant to the uninsured and under-insured motorist provisions contained in their policy.  

Chicago automobile accident lawyers, Mannis & Associates, Ltd. have over 24 years of experience assisting car accident victims involved in collisions with underinsured drivers. We can help you make a claim against your underinsured motorist coverage policy with your own insurance company and maximize your recovery.

For a free confidential consultation with Chicago underinsured motorist attorney Mannis & Associates, Ltd., call us at (888) 646-9632 or Contact Us  to schedule a free consultation today! 

Under-Insured Motorist Claims

If the defendant is “underinsured”, it means he has insurance but the limits are insufficient to cover the reasonable value of plaintiff’s claim.  The plaintiff then has to go after both the defendant’s insurer (as in a regular case) for the value of the claim up to the defendant’s policy limits, AND his own insurance company.

 To hold your insurance company liable, you must have first purchased uninsured under-insured motorist coverage.  While Illinois law requires that all auto insurance liability carriers offer uninsured under-insured motorist coverage, it does not require that the insurance company offer more than the minimum required by law or that individuals purchase additional coverage. In general your under-insured coverage limits are the same as your own liability coverage limits (this is the "default" coverage provided under Illinois law and assumes you did not opt for additional coverage). The current minimum limits required by law are $20,000 per individual and $40,000 per accident for personal injury or death, and $15,000 for property damage. 

The claim against your own insurance company is made on the uninsured - underinsured coverage, for an additional amount up to your own underinsured coverage limits. Once it is determined you have under-insured motorist coverage and the driver responsible for the accident is uninsured or under-insured, the relationship between you and your insurance company becomes adversarial. In an under-insured motorist situation, the insurance company steps into the shoes of the responsible party, and it then becomes their job to payout as little as possible on the claim. In general, a claim must be prepared as if for trial in order to properly arbitrate the case. Therefore, it is recommended that anyone involved in an accident involving uninsured under-insured motorist coverage, contact a qualified uninsured motorist attorney familiar with the issues to ensure you obtaining the fair and just compensation you deserve.

How Do I Get Compensation For My Claim Under Uninsured Motorist Provisions? 

Here is an example: A driver rear-ends your vehicle. You were injured and the reasonable value of your claim is $30,000. However, the responsible driver has liability policy limits of only $20,000. You make a claim against the responsible driver's insurance for $30,000.  The responsible driver's insurer offers the maximum settlement of $20,000 (up to the maximum of driver's coverage limits) to settle. You have an "underinsured" claim of $10,000, and your uninsured-underinsured claim limit is $30,000.  You would then take this offer to your own insurer. If you can prove to your own insurer, either through negotiation or arbitration, that your case would likely yield a $30,000+ verdict, your insurer must pay her an additional $10,000 under your underinsured coverage to settle. 

Illinois uninsured-underinsured motorist attorneys, Mannis & Associates, Ltd., are committed to obtaining the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries and property damage. If you have been injured and believe you have an under-insured motorist (or uninsured driver claim), contact us today at (888) 646-9632.  

We work on a contingency fee; you will not pay attorney's fees unless we collect money for you.

For a free confidential consultation and information on how Chicago uninsured-underinsured motorist attorneys, Mannis & Associates, Ltd. can put over twenty-four years of legal experience to work for you, contact us at (888) 646-9632.