Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers in Arkansas
After an accident with an uninsured motorist, you may feel lost and not sure what to do. You may be left with car repairs, medical bills, and no way to pay for them. Do not worry, there are options available to you.
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, then your own insurance company may be able to help cover some of the costs associated with the accident. Even if you do not have this coverage, your insurance company may still be able to help.
Unfortunately, getting into an accident with an uninsured motorist complicates the claims process significantly. However, you do not have to go through this alone. An Arkansas uninsured motorist accident lawyer at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys will work to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
If you have been in an accident with an uninsured motorist, do not hesitate to seek out the help you need. Hiring an experienced attorney at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton can make all the difference in getting you the justice and compensation you deserve.
What is an Uninsured Motorist Accident?
An uninsured motorist accident is when the at-fault driver does not have insurance coverage. This can leave a victim of an Arkansas car accident without any recourse for medical expenses or property damage. In some cases, the victim may be able to sue the at-fault driver personally, but this can be difficult to collect if the driver does not have assets.
Underinsured motorists are different. These drivers do have insurance coverage, but their policy limits are not high enough to cover the full extent of the damages incurred in an accident. The victim can be left with significant out-of-pocket costs. In Arkansas, victims of underinsured motorists may be able to recover additional damages from their own insurance company through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Should You Carry UM/UIM Insurance?
Underinsured/uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance is designed to protect you if you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have any insurance or enough insurance to cover your damages.
In Arkansas, the minimum liability insurance required by law is $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. However, the average cost of a car accident is much higher than this. That’s why UM/UIM coverage is so important. It can help ensure you’re not left footing the bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Arkansas also has a “stackable” UM/UIM law, which means that you can stack multiple UM/UIM policies on top of each other to increase the amount of coverage you have. For example, if you have two UM/UIM policies with $100,000 in coverage each, you have $200,000 in coverage.
If you’re thinking about whether you should carry UM/UIM insurance, the answer is almost always yes. It’s an affordable way to protect yourself financially in the event of an accident, and it’s required by law in Arkansas. You can learn more about UM/UIM insurance in our guide.
What to Do If You’re in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist?
If you are unfortunate enough to be in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you should take a few steps to protect yourself and your interests.
Remember These Cases are Different
First, it is important to remember that uninsured motorist cases are different from other types of accidents, so be sure to follow any particular steps that may apply in your state.
Exchange Information with Other Drivers and Gather Evidence
Next, exchange information with the other driver. You will need their name, contact information, and insurance information (if they have any). It is also best to write down their license plate number.
Gather evidence at the scene of the accident, including eyewitness information, pictures of the damage, and the accident site. If the accident resulted in damage or injury, you must call the police. This will alert them to the scene of the accident so that they can file a police report detailing the accident.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you have this information, you should contact your own insurance company as soon as possible. They will likely have a specific process for handling these types of claims, so you must follow their instructions.
In some cases, your insurance company may be able to help you recover damages from the other driver’s insurance company, even if they are uninsured. However, this is not always the case, so it is important to check with your insurer to see what options are available to you.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you cannot recover damages from either the other driver or their insurance company, you may still be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. This is usually only an option if the other driver was at fault for the accident and significant injuries or property damage were involved.
If you have been in an accident with an uninsured motorist, it is important to take quick action to protect your rights. By following these steps, you can help ensure that you can get the compensation you deserve.
How Insurance Companies Challenge UM/UIM Claims
Insurance companies are in business to make money. They may not have your best interests in mind, and they are NOT on your side. Even your own insurance company wants to pay out as little as possible. There are several ways insurance companies challenge UM/UIM claims.
One common way that insurance companies avoid paying out UM/UIM claims is by challenging the policyholder’s coverage. They may argue that the policyholder does not have the proper coverage or that the policy does not cover the particular incident in question.
Another way they may avoid paying is by claiming that the policyholder is at fault for the accident, which would make them ineligible for UM/UIM benefits. They might claim that you were speeding or that the accident was more your fault.
Finally, insurance companies may try to lowball the policyholder on the amount of compensation and damages they are entitled. In doing so, they hope that their policyholders will accept a settlement that is less than what they deserve.
If you are facing any of these challenges from your insurance company, it is important to speak with an experienced Arkansas uninsured motorist accident attorney who can fight for your rights and help.
How to Prove Your UM Claim
If you’ve been in a car accident and you believe the other driver was at fault, you may be able to file a claim under your uninsured motorist (UM) policy. But to do so, you’ll need to prove both driver liability and your own eligibility for coverage.
Here are some specific methods you can use to accomplish this.
- Get a copy of the police report from the accident to help establish that the other driver was at fault for the accident.
- Gather any witnesses to the accident who can attest to what happened and who is at fault.
- Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries you may have sustained in the accident.
- Keep track of any medical bills or other expenses you incur due to the accident.
- Speak with an experienced car accident attorney. They can help you collect evidence, build your case, and file the necessary paperwork to get the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been in a car accident with an uninsured motorist, don’t wait to take action. Follow these steps to improve your chances of success with your UM claim. Ultimately, the easiest way to ensure a successful claim is to contact an experienced Arkansas uninsured motorist accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Why Hire an Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
Most injured accident victims do not have experience handling complex accident claims and insurance policies. It is best to contact an experienced attorney after you suffer an injury in a car accident with an uninsured driver. Your time is better spent on your recovery and putting your life back together again after a serious accident.
There are many benefits to hiring an experienced uninsured motorist lawyer if you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run or other type of accident caused by an uninsured driver. Here are just a few:
- You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries beyond what your own insurance company is willing to pay. An experienced uninsured motorist accident lawyer will know how to negotiate with your insurer to get you the full amount you’re owed.
- You may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, which are not typically covered by insurance policies.
- If the at-fault driver is found and sued, an experienced UM lawyer can help you recover any judgments or settlements from them. A lawyer can help you recover damages from the other driver personally if they have assets that can be seized.
- An experienced UM lawyer can help you navigate the often complex laws surrounding uninsured motorist claims, ensuring that you receive the maximum compensation possible.
If you’ve been the victim of a hit-and-run or other accident caused by an uninsured driver, don’t try to go it alone. Hire an experienced Arkansas uninsured motorist accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve.
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Contact Our Arkansas Car Accident Lawyers Today
Did you or someone you love suffer an injury in a car accident with an uninsured motorist in Arkansas? If so, you need a law firm on your side with experience handling these complex cases.
With eight offices in Arkansas and Tennessee —Little Rock, Little Rock – Corporate Hill, Springdale, Hot Springs, Conway, Bryant, Jacksonville and Memphis —our injury lawyers are able to help injured accident victims from across both states. No matter if you live in Arkansas or are just passing through, we can help you! Contact Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Car Accident Lawyers today. Fill out a free contact request form, which only takes a minute, or simply dial (800) 434-4800 and tell us your story. Call us today!
