Categories: Blog

Does the Driver You Got into an Accident With Not Have Enough Insurance?

How an Uninsured/Underinsured Policy Can Help

You might have gotten into a car accident with a driver who either has some insurance, but not enough to cover the full accident or no insurance at all. Rather than shelling out the extra cash from your own pocketbook, you can make use of uninsured/underinsured coverage through your own policy when it’s available.

This coverage is completely voluntary in certain states and obligatory in varying degrees with others. It’s generally a wise choice to have uninsured/underinsured coverage overall.

When It’s Good to Use This Coverage in Illinois

You can elect to use this insurance at any time you’re in a crash and cannot obtain the at-fault driver’s insurance information. This could either be because they won’t share it with you or it was a hit-and-run situation.

The driver might have just not been covered with any liability insurance. You need to cover any of your damages with your own insurance. A combination of the following coverages can be used when your auto policy doesn’t cover all of your injuries:

Limitations on Filing More Than One Claim

Restrictions are set in place as to the amount available to claim from your underinsured motorist coverage in Chicago. This is critical to remember and is easy to disregard. When you file on the other insurer, only the difference between your maximum coverage and how much they pay can be claimed in most policies.

Let’s say the other driver holds $150,000 in liability insurance and you hold $200,000 in underinsured motorist coverage in Illinois. You could just claim what the difference comes out to be — $50,000 — from your underinsured motorist coverage claim. It might seem at first that you could claim $350,000 — the max of each policy combined, but you cannot.

Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley is Happy to Help

A quality attorney can go more in-depth into how these kinds of claims operate and what restrictions or limitations apply to your situation. A Chicago car accident injury lawyer at Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley will enable you to receive the most compensation possible and suggest the most reasonable settlement for your case. Get in touch with us at (815) 923-2107 to schedule a prompt review of your case today.

Jack D. Franks

Jack D. Franks, inspired by his father and the biography of Clarence Darrow, is dedicated to helping clients stand up for their rights at Franks Gerkin Ponitz Greeley. With a background in multinational and commercial litigation, Jack specializes in personal injury, complex commercial litigation, and general business law. He has also served as Chairman of the State Bank Group and was the first elected Chairman of the McHenry County Board, playing a key role in the impeachment of former Governor Blagojevich. Jack enjoys Chicago sports, hiking, and fishing in his free time.

Recent Posts

What Do You Do If Someone Has Hit Your Car and Driven Off?

Getting into a car accident is scary, no matter what the situation may be. The impact can be jarring, the…

3 years ago

Does Public Transportation Reduce Accidents?

People use public transportation for different reasons. Some do it out of necessity, while others appreciate the lower environmental impact…

3 years ago

What Percentage of Motorcycle Riders Have Accidents?

Motorcycles are popular vehicles in the United States, but they are also inherently dangerous for several reasons. While they are…

3 years ago

Are Scooters Dangerous?

Electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular modes of transportation. These vehicles offer a less expensive alternative to cars and provide…

3 years ago

What Are the Top Ten Causes of Car Accidents?

Car accidents are extremely difficult incidents to handle, regardless of their severity. Even a minor accident can be stressful and…

3 years ago

How Many Trucking Accidents Happen a Year?

Across the United States, commercial trucks play a valuable role. These bulky vehicles are responsible for transporting all kinds of…

3 years ago