If the driver who injured you had no insurance, too little insurance, or fled the scene, your own insurance policy may provide coverage. VanWa Legal PLLC helps accident victims in Vancouver and Clark County pursue uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.
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Uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM, applies when the driver who caused your accident has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist coverage, or UIM, applies when that driver has insurance, but not enough to cover the full extent of your injuries.
Hit and run cases often fall under uninsured motorist coverage as well, since an unidentified driver cannot be pursued directly. These claims are typically made through your own insurance policy rather than the at fault driver's, and exactly what applies depends on the specific terms of what you carry.
Washington's minimum liability insurance requirements are often far lower than what a serious injury actually costs. Medical bills, lost wages, and long term care needs can easily exceed what a minimum policy was ever designed to cover.
This gap becomes especially significant in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, where damages routinely reach well beyond a standard policy's limits. UIM coverage exists specifically to close that gap, and identifying it early is often one of the most important steps in a serious injury claim.
A hit and run leaves you without a driver to pursue directly, which is exactly where uninsured motorist coverage often comes in. A police report is essential here, along with any witness accounts, nearby camera footage, or even a partial vehicle description that could help identify the driver later.
Notify your insurer promptly after a hit and run, since delays in reporting can complicate a UM claim even when the underlying facts are strong.
A UM or UIM claim is filed against your own policy, but that does not mean your insurer is automatically on your side. They can still dispute fault, question the severity of your injuries, or push back on the value of your claim, the same tactics used by any other insurer.
Recorded statements and medical authorization requests should be handled carefully, even when the company involved is your own. Being your policyholder does not exempt them from acting in their own financial interest.
A UM or UIM claim rarely stands alone. Your PIP coverage often pays medical bills first, while health insurance may cover additional treatment costs, sometimes with a lien on your eventual settlement. The at fault driver's own liability insurance, however limited, is typically pursued alongside your UIM claim rather than instead of it.
In some cases, umbrella or excess coverage, or stacking multiple policies where your specific policy allows it, can extend your available coverage further. Subrogation and reimbursement issues can also come into play once multiple policies are involved, which is part of why a full coverage review matters before any claim is settled.
FAQ
Your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you carry it, may be able to cover your losses when the at fault driver has no insurance at all.
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If the driver who hurt you had no insurance, too little insurance, or fled the scene, you do not have to sort out your coverage alone. Talk to an attorney about your case at no cost, and pay nothing unless we win.
