NYC UNINSURED MOTORISTS ATTORNEY
INTRODUCTION TO UNINSURED MOTORISTS PROTECTION
In New York State if you are involved in a automobile accident you are entitled to personal injury protection (PIP) regardless of who may be at fault due to the state’s No-Fault law. In instances when another individual’s negligence was the cause of the accident you can make a bodily injury claim through the at-fault vehicle’s insurance to be compensated for your liability claim. There are times, however, when one may be struck by an individual with insufficient coverage. Read on to see the options available to you if ever faced with this scenario.
UNINSURED COVERAGE (UM)
All drivers in New York State are required to purchase liability insurance that meet the following standards:
- Bodily Injury minimum: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage minimum: Minimum $10,000 (does not apply to your own vehicle)
- Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury minimum: Minimum $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident (cannot exceed your BI liability limits)
- Basic Personal Injury Protection minimum: Minimum $50,000
Despite these requirements there are about 5.3% of drivers in New York who operate their vehicles without insurance. Though this places NY as 3rd lowest state (behind Massachusetts and Maine) with uninsured motorists, this still means that there are thousands of drivers out there with inadequate coverage.
The UM coverage helps you if you do not have access to an adverse vehicle’s liability insurance due to an accident caused by:
- Unidentified hit and run driver
- Uninsured out-of-state motor vehicle
- Uninsured NY motor vehicle
- Stolen motor vehicle
- Motor vehicle operated without the consent of the owner
- Unregistered motor vehicle
The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC) while also providing protection in accidents involving uninsured motorists, only steps in as the last resort.
UNDERINSURED COVERAGE (UIM)
Unlike uninsured motorist BI coverage, underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is not required by New York State. It provides coverage if the at-fault driver in an accident has insufficient liability coverage to fully compensate you.
In both UM and UIM cases a claim has to be filed against your own insurance to process bodily injury claims. UIM claims come into effect after the at-fault driver’s liability has been exhausted. If you find yourself seriously injured by an underinsured motorist, you may have a UIM claim if the injuries you sustain surpass the limits of the negligent driver’s policy.
SEEK A NYC UNINSURED MOTORISTS ATTORNEY WITH EXPERIENCE
Although most insurance companies will acknowledge and honor the UM/UIM provisions of your policy, there are some who may try to reject your UM/UIM claim or offer you very little compensation. It is thus very important to reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Wittenstein & Wittenstein we can help investigate your claim and ensure that you receive fair recovery. We have over 60 years of experience with settling cases involving uninsured and underinsured motorists in New York. Call NYC Uninsured Motorist Attorney today to schedule a free consultation.
NYC UNINSURED MOTORISTS ATTORNEY
Catastrophic Injuries Require A Prompt Legal Response
When an accident causes severe or catastrophic injuries, it’s important to take action immediately to preserve your claim. When defendants know that somebody is going to require a large amount of compensation, they are likely to try to destroy evidence and fabricate in an attempt to protect their financial interests. This is why it’s important to contact an experienced New York City catastrophic injury attorney as soon as possible after any accident or incident that causes serious permanent [...]
How To Document Your Car Accident Case
Anybody that’s ever watched TV or gone to the movies understands the importance of evidence in proving any type of legal matter. Car accident cases are no different. If you’re claiming you’re injured, you lost time from work and that your car was damaged, you’ll need evidence to show that this is true in order to collect compensation. Your subjective testimony may be compelling, but you’ll need documents and experts to back you up in order to prove [...]
Frivolous Cases and Contingency Fees
In order to provide access to people that cannot afford an attorney, personal injury attorneys in NYC are allowed to use contingency fee retainers that forgo payment until the case is settled or a verdict comes in from a jury. The attorney usually pays the expenses of the case in addition to investment time and if the case is dismissed or dropped the attorney collects nothing. This arrangement means that personal injury attorneys in NYC need to be [...]
We’ve Got Your Back
Catastrophic injuries are life altering, not just for the victim but for the entire family. Hopes and dreams are shattered, replaced with hoping that the next weeks, months and years might bring the ability to sit up, walk or talk. In addition to physical problems, financial worries amount as out of pocket medical expenses and lost earnings drain bank accounts. When tragedy strikes, it’s important to know that there are resources at your disposal that can greatly improve [...]
Do I Have A Medical Malpractice Case?
If you’ve been treating a doctor that’s caused you more harm than good, you may have a case against that doctor for medical malpractice. The law in New York allows people that are injured by the negligence, recklessness or intentional acts of a health care professional to sue for the damages they’ve incurred as a result. Unfortunately, many cases where people are injured by poor care don’t meet all of the necessary requirements for a successful medical malpractice [...]
How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You
After a year of lockdowns, economic insecurity and the loss of loved one due to Covid 19, it’s terrifying to consider what new tragedies may await us down the road. With vaccinations on the rise, and the economy opening up, we’ll be out of the road more often for work, recreational activities and travel. This is something so welcome, but doesn’t come without a downside in increased amounts of accidents on the road. That’s why it’s important to [...]