What is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) is a provision in auto insurance policies that extends coverage to include property and bodily damage caused by a motorist with insufficient insurance coverage. It is relevant in cases in which an individual who is not at fault gets into an accident that incurs greater costs than can be covered by the at-fault driver. UIM typically covers both bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage, depending on state regulations.
UIM may cover a range of costs incurred as a result of an accident, such as medical costs and lost wages among others. For example, if a person has $50,000 in medical bills as a result of a motor accident, and the at-fault driver’s insurance only covers up to $30,000, UIM coverage can cover the remaining $20,000. UIM coverage also extends to any passengers in the vehicle of the motorist who is not at fault, even if they do not share an insurance policy.
UIM serves as a way to protect blameless motorists from accidents that are not their fault. It compensates them beyond simply the limits of an insurance policy. However, it does also protect at-fault motorists by making them not need to pay extensive out-of-pocket fees when their insurance coverage is not enough.
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Bethlehem Lyft Accident Lawyer
We primarily think of Lyft as a convenience, a means of getting from point A to point B at a reasonable cost. It can be easy to forget that when we get into a Lyft we are trusting a stranger with our lives and safety. Would you know what to do if your Lyft driver got into an accident? What if the accident was your Lyft driver’s fault? Who should pay for your injuries? Will Lyft take any responsibility?
A Bethlehem Lyft accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can answer these questions, and more. Since 1959, Munley has been the most trusted name in law in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Our attorneys understand the complexities of rideshare car accidents and can help you navigate this often-confusing situation. We have decades of experience handling serious injury cases involving big transportation companies and commercial insurance policies. Let us put that experience to work for you. […]
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What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage, and Do I Need it?
We drive a lot. It’s a daily act that becomes almost mundane, but being on the busy roads at any time of day brings you into close contact with literally hundreds of other drivers and vehicles.
Many of these hundreds of drivers are distracted by hundreds of things. An accident can happen in a split second. How confident are you that these drivers have sufficient or any car insurance policy?
Uninsured motorist statistics
If you’re the victim of a collision with an uninsured driver, or with a driver who has very little auto insurance coverage, you could be responsible for the entire financial burden of a car crash.
According to a 2021 study by the Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Insurance Research Council (IRC), 13 percent of motorists, or about one in eight drivers nationwide, is uninsured. […]
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How Much Can Someone Sue for a Car Accident?
In general, there is no limit to how much you can sue someone for a car accident. However, there are factors that may limit how much compensation you will recover in a lawsuit. Things like the severity of the injuries, the extent of the other party’s negligence and the coverage of insurance policies will all limit what you can recover.
How Much Can a Car Accident Victim Sue For?
Car accident victims can sue for economic and noneconomic damages depending on the severity of the wreck. The only way to really maximize the total compensation a victim may be awarded is by utilizing the legal representation of a car accident lawyer.
Potential compensation a car accident victim may be awarded include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
What will be awarded will also depend on the severity of the crash. […]
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What Does it Mean When You Stack Your Auto Insurance Policies?
Understanding Stacked Car Insurance
It is estimated that 12.6 percent of motorists on the road in 2019 were driving without car insurance. That equals to approximately one in eight drivers are behind the wheel without insurance. Not only is this illegal and dangerous, but getting into an accident can be costly to all involved.
If you get into a severe car accident in Pennsylvania with an uninsured motorist, your first concern may be how will you pay for your medical expenses. Will you be stuck with the bill?
Fortunately, there are provisions in your insurance policy that will pay for any of the injuries you may receive. And if your underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage is stacked, then you won’t have to worry about paying for the large medical bills.
But what is stacked insurance? And why is it beneficial to stack your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? […]
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What Happens if the At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Car Insurance?
What to Do In Car Accident with Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist
You may be asking yourself, If I’m involved in a car accident, and the at-fault driver doesn’t have car insurance, what happens to me? In Pennsylvania, that answer largely depends on the type of insurance coverage you have, including underinsured motorist coverage. Typically, however, you can file a compensation claim with your own insurance company or file a personal injury or car accident lawsuit against the other driver.
Pennsylvania Drivers Are Required to Carry Insurance
In Pennsylvania, drivers are required to carry insurance coverage. Known as no-fault or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, no matter who is at fault in the accident, the initial medical bills are covered by your own insurance company, up to a certain amount.
However, it is estimated that 6% of Pennsylvania drivers are uninsured, […]
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