Alabama's minimum required auto insurance policy is designed to ensure that drivers are held liable in the event of an accident. So what do you do if someone causes an accident and they either don't have insurance or are underinsured? As an experienced Alabama Uninsured Motorist Lawyer, Mezrano Law Firm can help.
Uninsured motorist lawyers can be essential for people who have been in an accident with a driver who does not have adequate insurance coverage. You may be stuck paying for medical bills and vehicle repairs out of pocket in this situation. The good news is that you could still be covered if there was enough uninsured motorist coverage on your policy to address the losses associated with the accident – regardless of the other driver’s level of coverage.
An uninsured motorist attorney can help you navigate the process of filing a claim and ensure that your rights as an injured victim are adequately represented. Our uninsured car accident lawyers understand liability insurance companies are motivated to deny claims or minimize payouts. They will work hard to ensure that any money you receive correctly reflects your losses.
Additionally, should your insurer act in bad faith by attempting to avoid their responsibility for holding up their end of the agreement, an experienced accident attorney must hold them accountable and fight for fair compensation.
The state law mandates that a driver’s auto insurance policy must cover both bodily injury and property damage liability with $25,000 or more for one person's injury or death in a car accident and $50,000 for more than one person's injury or death in a crash.
An additional minimum of $25,000 of property damage coverage is also mandated. This ensures that injured individuals can receive compensation should they be involved in an accident caused by another driver who lacks adequate insurance coverage. Furthermore, this requirement can protect property owners whose investments might be damaged due to an automobile accident. Although Alabama has these insurance requirements, drivers are still encouraged to purchase additional coverage if needed to protect from financial losses created by car accidents.
Regarding uninsured and underinsured drivers on the roads, Alabama consistently has some of the highest rates in the nation. In 2012, Alabama ranked No. 7, with 19.6 percent of registered drivers completely uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute. This is higher than the national average of 12.6 percent that same year. It's clear that significant numbers of people are confident enough to drive their vehicles daily with no insurance coverage at all or inadequate policies that won't provide enough financial assistance should they be involved in an auto accident.
There are several possible factors contributing to this high rate of uninsured or underinsured drivers in Alabama.
Many residents may be unaware of updated laws surrounding vehicle insurance coverage.
New residents unfamiliar with local auto insurance regulations may inadvertently fail to acquire adequate vehicle coverage.
Worse yet, some may knowingly drive without proper protection– putting themselves and others on the road at risk for major expenses related to accidents in which their policy limits aren't sufficient to cover costs from damages and injuries.
If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, your remedies will depend on the circumstances. Alabama's penalties for operating a vehicle without sufficient insurance are quite lenient. They may include a fine of up to $1,000, a driver’s license suspension of 180 days, and at most six months of jail time.
Although this leaves you with little recourse regarding legal action, it is still possible to pursue justice if the at-fault driver has assets such as a home or savings. In this case, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries. Hiring an experienced uninsured motorist lawyer
When you are injured in an auto accident, and the at-fault driver does not have enough or any car insurance to cover all of your damages, it can be an incredibly frustrating experience. Knowing who to turn to can be confusing, and the idea of a long legal battle may seem daunting. That is why having access to experienced Birmingham car accident lawyers is essential to help guide victims through this trying time.
An experienced attorney will explain your legal rights in this situation, such as suing the other driver personally for their role in causing the accident.
Before looking towards a lawsuit, however, they will review your own comprehensive or underinsured motorist/uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your policy and inform how it applies in your particular situation.
Suppose you do have one of these coverages. In that case, you may get some or all property damage and injury expenses covered by your insurer following the automobile accident.
Through reviews and explanations by an experienced car accident lawyer at Mezrano Law Firm, victims can feel confident pursuing uninsured or underinsured claims for compensation for losses suffered due to an automobile crash caused by someone else's negligence.
A car accident lawyer in Birmingham will file a personal injury claim if your UM/UIM doesn't cover all the damages or injuries sustained in the accident. The damages you can pursue are:
Economic damages are losses that arise from an injury or harm to another’s property, business, or finances. Economic damages include:
Non-economic damages are types of damages in personal injury cases that cannot be quantified or measured. These include:
Punitive damages are legal damages that a court will award to punish the wrongdoer for egregious misconduct or to set an example for other potential violators. They are generally in addition to any other compensatory damages that were awarded.
Special damages, also known as consequential damages, do not occur directly from a breach but are considered a consequence of that breach. They include economic losses such as lost profits or the cost of repair or replacement. They may also have other losses, such as emotional distress due to the breach.
Yes, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. This civil action seeks compensation from someone whose negligence or misconduct led to the death of your loved one. It is important to retain an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible so they can investigate the incident and advise you about legal options before the statute of limitations for filing runs out.
Under uninsured motorist coverage, if an insured is in a hit-and-run accident, their policy will compensate them up to their policy's limits. This is incredibly helpful for victims who cannot identify the person who struck them; it allows them to regain what was lost due to the collision without finding out who caused it. For instance, if your car was damaged during a hit and run, your insurance company's UM coverage would typically cover repairs, even if you don't know who was responsible for hitting you. In addition, any medical bills that may be incurred from injuries sustained from the accident are usually covered.
Contact our law firm today if you have been a car accident victim by an uninsured motorist.