San Antonio UM / UIM Claims Lawyer
UM/UIM claims attorney in San Antonio fighting for car accident victims
Every car accident claim in San Antonio has three parts. The first part is to show who is liable for your injuries. The second part is to show what damages you deserve. Damages in San Antonio car accident cases include your pain and suffering, medical bills, lost income, property damage, and any other damages. The third part is getting paid. Normally car accident victims are paid by the insurance carriers for the negligent driver and any other responsible parties. If the driver did not have enough insurance or didn’t have enough insurance to pay for all your damages, then our San Antonio UM/UIM claims lawyer can help. Contact us to get started today.
What is UM/UIM coverage?
UM/UIM insurance is standard car insurance coverage. Insurance companies are required to provide this coverage (in the same amount as your liability insurance coverage) unless you specifically waive the coverage in writing. Liability insurance pays for your bodily injury damages if someone else caused your injuries.
Even though drivers are required to have liability insurance and property damage insurance to pay the damages for car accidents, many drivers drive without insurance. Most drivers who do have insurance just have the required minimum insurance. If you are injured in an accident, you can file a UM/UIM claim with your own UM/UIM carrier:
- If the responsible defendants do not have any insurance.
- If the responsible drivers don’t have enough insurance to cover your damages. Many serious injury claims are worth hundreds of thousands or even more than a million dollars. This means the responsible drivers are unlikely to have enough insurance to pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and property damage – so, you need to use your UM/UIM policy to pay some or all of the damages the other policies don’t cover.
- If the driver who caused the accident is a hit-and-run driver. If the driver who struck you didn’t stop and can’t be found, then you can file a UM/UIM claim with your own insurance company. Once liability is established, your UM/UIM carrier should pay all your damages up to the UM/UIM limit.
Our San Antonio UM/UIM lawyer will explain when and how you file your UM/UIM claim if you already have a pending case against the negligent driver and/or other defendants.
Who is covered by UM/UIM insurance?
In the event of an accident, the following people can make a claim through your UM/UIM coverage:
- The driver, including anyone who borrowed your car
- Family and household members
- Any passengers in the vehicle
However, you may ALSO be covered under this policy if you are injured by a driver while you are walking or riding a bicycle. In order to make a claim, however, you must prove that the driver who hit you is at fault for the collision.
A few key considerations
Insurance policies for most (but not necessarily all) coverages only pay up to the policy limits. You must be current with the payment of your insurance premiums.
Generally, your policy covers you, the family members of your household, and the people you give permission to drive your car. You should inform your insurance agent if you use your car for business and if anyone will be driving your car on a regular basis.
You need to check with your insurance agent (and our team) about:
- Whether your current insurance covers the purchase of a new car.
- Whether your current insurance applies if you’re in an accident while in Mexico
- Whether you’re covered if you drive someone else’s car – such as a friend’s car or a rental agency’s car
In theory, if the person who caused the accident doesn’t have any insurance or enough insurance to pay all of your damages, you could obtain a judgment and try to collect the judgment. However, the odds are that if the driver couldn’t afford insurance, the driver probably has limited assets. Some exceptions may apply.
How much UM/UIM insurance should I purchase?
If you have a catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or severe burns; your claim will be worth much more than the minimum state requirement. Even if the other driver has the state minimum of $30,000, that’s likely not even a fraction of what you claim is worth. For this reason, you should buy as much UM/UIM coverage and as much liability insurance coverage as you can afford. Often the premiums are discounted for higher coverage.
Do you have a San Antonio UM/UIM lawyer near me?
The legal team from the Law Offices of Pat Maloney meet car accident victims and their families at our office located at 239 E Commerce St. in the center of Downtown San Antonio, TX. Our building is considered one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in San Antonio. Parking should be easy. We conduct video conferences and phone conversations if necessary. If you’re immobile, we also make in-hospital visits.
We’ll guide you step-by-step through the claims process. We’re ready to help you today.
An experienced San Antonio UM/UIM claims lawyer can help when you are injured
The cost of medical bills alone is quite expensive for most car accidents. When compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, and other damages are included, most San Antonio car accidents are worth a lot of money. At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, you’ll work with a San Antonio UM/UIM claims lawyer who fights to obtain the highest damage award possible – and to collect on that award. We use every available insurance policy including your own UM/UIM policy to pay the damage award.
To discuss your right to compensation after a car accident, call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to help you now.