Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists

Protection from the uninsured and underinsured

According to the Insurance Research Council, as of 2009, its most recent figures, some 16 percent of Ohio drivers are uninsured. Even more are underinsured, meaning their insurance is not enough to pay for your damages if you are seriously injured. Protecting your family from these statistics, however, is a two-fold process. First, you must ascertain you have uninsured/underinsured coverage on your own policy. Then you must work with an attorney to be sure you navigate negotiations correctly.

The attorneys at Elizabeth Bernard Law are experts when it comes to protecting you from the uninsured and underinsured. First, we can advise you as to whether your own policy is sufficient to protect your family. Then, when the worst occurs, our team will help you through the legal process so that you obtain the full compensation to which you are entitled, both from the at-fault driver’s insurance and from your own.

Understanding Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Confirming the coverage you have on your auto insurance policy is crucial because so many motorists today carry only the minimum amount of liability insurance required by Ohio law, which is $25,000. As Ohioans continue to attempt to reduce their quarterly premiums, it becomes more and more likely that an at-fault driver will not have enough insurance to pay the injured person’s medical bills and other damages.

Unfortunately, many people think they are fully covered for uninsured and underinsured motorists, when in reality, they are not. Your insurance agent is not required to offer you this coverage, so review your policy carefully to be sure you have at least as much uninsured/underinsured coverage as you have liability coverage. In other words, if you carry $100,000 to pay for the medical bills of people you injure, you should carry at least that much coverage for you and your family in the event of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

If you are injured in an accident, don’t try to deal with an uninsured or underinsured motorist on your own. Resolving a claim with an underinsured driver without first obtaining permission from your insurance company can mean forfeiting your right to file a claim for the uninsured/underinsured coverage you have paid for.

Our team of experts understand this process and will handle the details so that you can recover the maximum to which you are entitled.

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