Why You May Need an Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer
According to Oregon state law, all drivers must have vehicle liability insurance. While this is a basic requirement by law, not everyone follows it. If you have sustained injuries in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you can file a claim against your own insurance company. Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Oregon, with all drivers expected to have it.
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Portland Underinsured & Uninsured Motorist Lawyers
At Portland Legal Group, we help represent clients who need Oregon uninsured motorist attorneys to navigate the state’s complex legal system. It is crucial to know that suing an uninsured motorist is different from suing a responsible driver’s insurance company. You need an experienced legal mind to help you figure it out.
What Is an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident?
According to Oregon laws, insurance companies must offer their policyholders uninsured motorist coverage. Unfortunately, this is a policy add-on that most people don’t take. If you get involved in an accident with an underinsured or uninsured motorist, two things are certain:
- The driver’s coverage didn’t cover all the damages,
- The driver didn’t have any insurance at all
Dealing with such cases can be challenging, given that the other party doesn’t have insurance. Get in touch with a skilled Portland car accident attorney so that they can explain how to handle such cases. They will also give you the best advice on protecting your family and loved ones. At Portland Legal Group, we have a dedicated team of car accident attorneys that are ready to help you get compensated for all the damages you have suffered.
What Are the Consequences of Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists?
If you get involved in an accident with an underinsured or uninsured motorist, here is what you might be up to:
- The damages to your car won’t be covered
- Your insurer might not be able to recover damages
- The medical bills you have incurred will not be settled
However, if you have insurance coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers, your insurance company will cover your car damages, pain and suffering, as well as medical bills. It is vital to know that motorists without adequate insurance coverage face severe legal consequences in Portland. The state of Oregon requires that motorists have $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person. A $50,000 insurance cover is required for each accident. Besides, motorists should have a minimum of $20,000 in property damage coverage.
If a motorist doesn’t have this insurance cover, they can be held liable for the amount of damage caused. If you find yourself in such situations and in need of an uninsured motorist attorney, we are here to help. Our team will help you pursue legal action against the at-fault party, even if they don’t have sufficient insurance coverage. Contact us today for a free case evaluation!
How UM and UIM Claims Work in Portland
According to Oregon state laws, all drivers must have motor vehicle liability insurance. While this is a state requirement, not everyone follows it. This is unfortunate because it results in many compromising situations. If you have sustained injuries in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you are allowed by law to file a claim against your own insurance company. This is because it is mandatory for your insurance company to insure you against uninsured motorists (UM) in the state of Oregon.
After an accident with an uninsured motorist, your insurance company will step in the shoes of the at-fault driver and cover all the damages you have suffered. In that case, your insurance company will assert every possible piece of evidence available against the at-fault motorist. For instance, because they are the ones paying for the damages, the insurance company may contend that you were partially responsible for the accident. They might also try to underestimate your injuries. Such messy negotiations need a tactical and skilled personal injury attorney from Portland Legal Group.
In Oregon, you must get permission from your insurance company before settling a claim with the at-fault party. If you fail to do so and proceed without permission from your insurance company, you may waive your right to pursue an underinsured motorist claim. This means that you won’t be allowed to pursue the claim without the necessary evidence. Underinsured and uninsured motorist claims involve complex legal and insurance issues. Trying to navigate these issues by yourself can put you in a weaker position. Therefore, you should seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney before settling your claims with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The same should also be done before settling claims with your insurance company.
What To Do If You’ve Been Hurt in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
In any case, injuries should be treated as soon as possible. Therefore, the first thing you should do after getting involved in an accident is to seek medical attention. Let all the injuries you have sustained be treated by a professional. Keep in mind that your medical bills will likely be paid for by your insurance company. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on your medical expenses. If the driver is uninsured, you won’t be able to seek compensation for property damage or pain and suffering. Get the help of an uninsured motorist attorney if you don’t have the add-on policy.
Here are the steps you should take after getting injured in an accident with an uninsured driver.
- Call the Police: Call law enforcement officers as soon as possible. You will need the police report when proving your case in court.
- Obtain Information: Get the necessary information from the driver if you can. In most cases, this information is contained in the police report. However, you should write down crucial details like the person’s license plate number and insurance information.
- Get Medical Attention: At this point, you should get medical attention. Getting treated is essential no matter how minor the injuries look.
- Obtain Evidence: If possible, you should obtain evidence from the accident scene. Ensure it is safe to do so before obtaining it. Crucial evidence for such cases includes raw images of the scene, photos of your injuries, and witness information, among other details.
After that, get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney as well as your insurance company.
How We Can Help
At Portland Legal Group, we provide you with comprehensive legal advice to help you receive the highest amount of compensation you deserve.
Comprehensive Legal Support
Our team of experienced uninsured motorist lawyers will offer comprehensive legal support throughout every step of the legal process. Our car accident lawyers in Portland will help you with investigation, documentation, negotiation, representation in the courtroom, and numerous other areas where you might need professional support.
Maximizing Your Compensation
While your insurance company might try to minimize the amount of your compensation, we will try to maximize it, ensuring you get what you truly deserve. We leverage possible avenues for getting compensation, such as:
- Filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault uninsured driver
- Filing a claim under your UM/UIM insurance coverage
- Leveraging other channels, such as collision or medical payment coverage
- Identifying potential areas of third-party liability
We do not limit our strategy to one particular channel but instead leverage several pathways to help you reach your desired objective!
Experience with Complex Cases
From our extensive experience with UM/UIM claims, we have realized that this type of case can be very complex. What makes them even more challenging is that you might be in severe disputes with your insurance company. They might offer you compensation that is significantly below the actual value of your damages or might try to put some part of the blame on you.
Despite the complex nature of UM/UIM cases, we are happy to note that we have a proven track record of successful cases in which our client (i.e., the victim of the accident) received fair compensation for the sustained damages.
Therefore, our litigation experts have substantial experience navigating motorist liability laws. They will leverage their extensive expertise and knowledge in the field to best support you in addressing the complexities of auto collision claims that involve uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Contact our skilled personal injury lawyers to overcome the challenging situation smoothly and effectively!
Hire a Skilled Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Attorney in Portland
The earlier you consult with an uninsured motorist accident attorney, the higher your chances of success. Through early, immediate intervention, we will be able to:
- Help you gather evidence and organize that in a timely and effective manner
- Negotiate with any relevant parties to best support your case
- Meet all the important deadlines in the legal process
- Tactically protect you from a situation where your losses are underestimated
- Help you reach an outcome where your needs are adequately addressed
Having to suffer from the physical and emotional losses of an accident is enough of a burden in itself. You don’t have to take care of the financial load of an accident in which you had no guilt.
Contact our experienced Portland uninsured motorist lawyers today to receive a free consultation, where you can consider your legal options under Oregon law and decide which direction to take. We will protect you from having to handle the emotional and financial burden entirely alone.