Uninsured or Underinsured Coverage

Car accidents are never pleasant. When the other party either has no insurance or not enough insurance, the car accident experience can be particularly difficult.

In general, the most direct way to recover for your losses after an accident with an uninsured motorist involves making a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy. This may be the case in a hit-and-run accident. Unfortunately, not every insurance company is ready to respond in the way you deserve. The insurance reps may dispute your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.

They may, for example, claim the accident was entirely your fault when in fact you may have been forced off the road by a reckless driver who did not actually hit your car. Your car may end up in a ditch and the other driver may flee. Often insurance companies will claim that the accident was entirely your fault because you do not know the identity of the driver who forced you off the road.

Disputes can arise for all sorts of reasons. With an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you can level the playing field with the insurance company, which will have its own attorney.

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, Zbinden & Curtis may be able to help you pursue the maximum compensation for your losses. Get in touch with our firm today for a free initial consultation.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage Requirements

Many states, including Washington, require insurance companies to offer motorists uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance to people purchasing liability coverage. Oregon requires every driver to carry a minimum of $25,000 of un/underinsured motorist coverage. This means that if you are an Oregon resident and hit by a un/underinsured driver, your insurance company can cover your bills up to that amount.

Auto insurance regulations are complex. Insurance companies may take advantage of the fact that many people do not understand their own coverage. When an unusual circumstance comes up, an insurance company may try to deny a claim or reduce the amount of money that the insured driver deserves and has been paying in premiums each month.

At Zbinden & Curtis, we understand how insurance companies operate. We know how to apply the laws to any circumstances related to an accident.