Uninsured Motorists/Underinsured Motorists Claim Attorneys in Wichita

Our Wichita car accident injury lawyers fight for you to maximize your settlement

All drivers in Kansas are required to carry car insurance, the fact is many of them don’t. Unfortunately auto insurance rates continually get higher and not everyone can afford insurance, but people have to drive.  Our auto accident injury attorneys know that the risk of being hit by an uninsured driver is high and that it’s important to make sure you are protected.

The Wichita auto accident injury lawyers at PISTOTNIK LAW handle the insurance company for you if you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver. Our law firm serves the greater metropolitan Wichita area and all of Kansas. When you contact us, our experienced injury lawyers will help if you or a loved one was injured by the negligence of an uninsured driver.

Who Pays If I’m Hit By an Uninsured Driver?

An auto accident has many components in Kansas.  You have to figure out your property losses.  You have to deal with Kansas no fault laws which provide for benefits called personal injury protection benefits through your own insurer.  You also have a bodily injury claim to get a financial recovery to pay you for all your losses, both economic and noneconomic (like pain and suffering). If your injuries leave you unable to work, there is less income coming in. The accident wasn’t your fault, but who will pay the bills?

In Kansas, every automobile insurance policy must provide at least $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury when multiple people are injured in the same collision, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. In today’s times, these limits are rarely enough.

To protect yourself from having to cover your medical and other expenses due to an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, you can purchase coverage known as uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits. To protect yourself for the vehicle, it also is wise to purchase collision coverage.  This allows you to get paid by your own insurance company if a negligent driver has no insurance or not enough liability insurance to pay for your damages.

In Kansas, uninsured motorist insurance coverage will cover up to your policy’s dollar limits of coverage. It also will pay for damages caused by a hit-and-run driver when you promptly report the accident to the police.

Although automobile insurance can be expensive, it is strongly recommended to purchase the highest UM coverage you can afford.  No person in Kansas should ever get coverage less than $100,000, at a minimum.  This typically is not a large additional expense, but it will protect you and your family, in the event you are in a car wreck that involves another driver who has no insurance or insufficient insurance.

What If I Don’t Have Higher UM or UIM Coverage?

Kansas requires every automobile insurance policy to provide a minimum of $25,000 of UM coverage.  But getting higher coverage is necessary for your protection in the event of an unfortunate collision with any significant injury. Without this coverage, your options for financial compensation are limited. You could choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If the lawsuit is successful, that driver may still not have enough assets to pay you.  It is common to spend more money going after the negligent uninsured driver than you will actually recover from that driver.  You may end up forcing that individual to file bankruptcy, but that doesn’t get you anything financially.  In some cases, you may be able to take legal action against a third party responsible for the accident, such as the manufacturer of defective car parts.

You can also use your health insurance policy to cover some medical expenses but be aware of out-of-pocket co-payments.  In Kansas, your health insurance is secondary to your primary auto coverage for personal injury protection benefits under the no fault laws.

The very unfortunate reality is that your recovery very well  be limited to the amount of UM coverage you purchased, even if your actual damages are much higher.  Imagine how bad it would be to have over a million dollars of actual damages, but only be allowed to recover $25,000 because that is the only insurance available.  Protect yourself with higher coverage!

Contact Our Injurys Lawyer Who Know How to Handle Uninsured Driver Cases

Hit by an uninsured motorist? Our firm has been helping people injured in car accidents since 1987. We’ve handled many cases involving uninsured drivers. Our attorneys will pursue every option available to try to help you recover financial compensation. We know the impact a car accident with an uninsured driver can have on you and your family and we are ready to fight to get you the most possible.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident caused by an uninsured driver, learn more about how we can help. Contact us today to make an appointment with an experienced Wichita car accident injury lawyer. Your initial consultation is free, there is no up front money needed, and you don’t pay us unless you win.