How Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Help Illinois Car Crash Victims?

 Posted on March 31, 2021 in Insurance

When a person is injured in a car accident, it is not uncommon for their medical expenses to total in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In cases involving driver negligence, the at-fault party often lacks the resources to compensate the victim out of pocket, and instead, compensation usually comes through the driver’s liability insurance, which is required by law in Illinois. However, there are a variety of situations in which the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot cover the victim’s damages. In these cases, victims can often turn to their own car insurance policy for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

When Should I Use Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

By default, car insurance policies in Illinois include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for bodily injury and death, and policyholders often have the option to purchase additional coverage for uninsured or underinsured property damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be a life-saver for injury victims under many different circumstances, including when:

• The at-fault driver lacks liability insurance. Although Illinois law requires all drivers in the state to have liability insurance, many people choose to drive illegally without it. A victim’s uninsured motorist coverage is crucial when the other driver has no insurance coverage at all.
• The at-fault driver flees the accident and cannot be located. In the case of a hit-and-run accident, it may not be possible to identify the at-fault driver to determine whether they have liability insurance and file a personal injury claim against them. Uninsured motorist coverage can also take effect in these cases.
• The victim’s injuries are severe. Even if the at-fault driver has liability insurance, their policy limit may not cover the full extent of the victim’s damages. The minimum required liability insurance limit in Illinois is only $25,000 per victim, and many severe injuries require treatment that costs much more, not to mention other possible damages including lost wages and pain and suffering. Underinsured motorist coverage can account for the remaining balance of a victim’s damages after the at-fault driver’s policy limit is reached.
• There are multiple injury victims. In addition to a limit per victim, liability insurance coverage also typically includes a limit per accident, with the minimum required amount being $50,000 in Illinois. Even if a victim’s injuries are relatively minor, the at-fault driver’s policy may not cover their damages if there are other victims with severe injuries. Underinsured motorist coverage can also be used in these cases.

Contact an Orland Park Car Accident Attorney

If you have been injured by a driver who lacks the insurance coverage to pay for your damages, attorney Khaled Issa can help. He will work with you to file a claim for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and handle disputes that may arise with your insurance provider. Contact our Illinois personal injury lawyer today at 708-966-2408 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/vsd361.pdf

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=021500050K143a-2