Uninsured Motorist Claim Claims

When the at-fault driver carries no insurance, your own policy becomes your protection — and a fight worth winning.

An uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim arises when you are injured by a driver who either carries no liability insurance at all or whose coverage is too low to fully compensate your losses. With a significant percentage of drivers on American roads uninsured or carrying only minimum limits, this coverage is one of the most important protections in any auto policy. Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene unidentified, while underinsured motorist coverage fills the gap when the at-fault driver's limits are exhausted but your damages exceed them. The crucial and often misunderstood feature of UM/UIM claims is that they are filed against your own insurance company, which means the insurer you have paid premiums to suddenly stands in an adversarial position — disputing fault, minimizing your injuries, and contesting the value of your claim just as the at-fault driver's insurer would. Many UM/UIM claims are subject to mandatory arbitration clauses rather than jury trials, and policies impose strict notice and proof requirements, including establishing the other driver's lack of or insufficient coverage. Stacking provisions in some states may allow you to combine coverage across multiple vehicles or policies to increase available limits. Because these claims pit you against your own insurer and involve technical policy interpretation, careful documentation of the at-fault driver's coverage status, prompt notice, and thorough proof of damages are all essential to a full recovery.

For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.