Providing Families Options for Legal Action & Financial Recourse Throughout Colorado
Our experienced Denver wrongful death attorney team at Parrish and Jennings work tirelessly on behalf of individuals who need and deserve compensation after a wreck with an uninsured or underinsured driver. We can evaluate the policies involved, investigate other payment sources, and ensure you receive the maximum amount available for your injuries and losses with our wrongful death attorney.
When Negligent Drivers Can’t Pay for the Consequences of Their Irresponsibility, We Can Help
Immediately after a car accident, whether it is a minor fender-bender or catastrophic crash, you likely know that you should exchange car insurance information with the other driver. Doing so allows you (and your car insurance company) to make a claim and seek compensation for your injuries under the other driver’s liability coverage policy. The purpose of liability coverage is to ensure there is at least some money available for any injuries or property damage the insured driver causes.
But what if the other driver says they have no liability insurance? What if they have coverage but only in an amount far less than the damages and losses caused by their negligence? What if the driver fled the scene of the accident before you could get their name or information?
Unfortunately, these are all-too-common scenarios. Even though Colorado, like almost every other state, requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage, not everyone follows the law. In fact, about one in eight drivers here in Colorado and across the country don’t have liability insurance.
That means that every year, injuries caused by uninsured and underinsured drivers’ negligence leave tens of thousands of victims wondering how they will pay their medical bills, make up for lost earnings, and move forward with their lives. If you were in a crash with a driver who irresponsibly – and illegally – lacked sufficient liability insurance, the Denver car accident lawyers at Parrish and Jennings can help.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage May Be Available – If You Included It in Your Policy
Even if the other driver has liability coverage, it may only be the minimum amount required by Colorado law, which is:
- ● $25,000 for bodily injury or death to any one person in an accident.
- ● $50,000 for bodily injury or death to all persons in any one accident.
- ● $15,000 for property damage in any one accident.
If your injuries are serious, you could easily incur more than $25,000 in medical costs in a matter of hours or days. That means someone with the bare minimum of coverage won’t be able to compensate you for the potentially significant other astronomical costs of their negligence and your injuries, including additional medical bills, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
That is precisely why so many Colorado drivers include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage as part of their car insurance policies. UM/UIM coverage can provide you with compensation for damages caused by drivers without sufficient insurance, but it can also cover losses and injuries you incur in an accident with a hit-and-run driver.
Even though all insurers in Colorado must provide UM/UIM coverage in an amount equal to the level of the policyholder’s liability coverage for bodily injury, an insured can reject this optional coverage if they choose.
Even If You Have UM/UIM Coverage, Your Own Insurance Company May Not Step-Up
But just because you have UM/UIM coverage through your own insurance company doesn’t mean getting money in your pocket is guaranteed. Your own insurance company has plenty of motivation to find a way not to pay you if you suffer injuries in an accident with an uninsured driver or in a hit-and-run.
Car insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they make less every time they pay a claim. That is why your insurance company may throw up roadblocks or make excuses instead of honoring its commitment to compensate you for losses caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
Your insurer may try to deny your claim or minimize the amount it pays. For example, it may:
- ● Assert that the crash was your fault.
- ● Blame someone other than the uninsured driver for the crash.
- ● Deny that the crash caused your injuries.
- ● Argue that your injuries are not severe enough to qualify for payment under your insurance policy’s provisions.
For all these reasons, it is crucial to consult with an experienced Denver car accident lawyer if you have been in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
Parrish and Jennings: Denver Uninsured/Underinsured Accident Injury Lawyers
Even though it may seem like you are out of luck if an uninsured or underinsured driver caused your accident, you may still have options with our wrongful death attorney. At Parrish and Jennings, we can explore every possible avenue of recovery and fight back against insurance companies that fail to meet their obligations. Please contact us today to arrange for your free initial consultation. We look forward to the privilege of serving you.