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Uninsured Car Accident Claims

Underinsured Drivers Claims

Many times, people involved in accidents are uninsured. If you have been involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Virginia, Maryland or DC, contact Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.

Car Accident Insurance: Many State Requirements are Inadequate

While every state in the country has insurance regulations for drivers, the amount of coverage required varies from state to state. A motorist with a high-mileage car that is ten years old is most likely to carry only the state minimum on his policy. For instance, the minimum liability coverage for Virginia is $25,000 for each person injured in an accident, with a limit of $50,000 for the entire accident. Included in the minimum liability is $20,000 worth of property damage coverage.

Maryland offers lower numbers for its state minimum, with $20,000 for each injury and a limit of $40,000 for the entire accident, and property damage is only covered up to $10,000.

Washington, D.C. requires $25,000 per person with a $50,000 limit, and $10,000 property damage. Any D.C. Metro resident who has spent any time on the Beltway knows that accidents can and will involve multiple cars, and the combined costs of injuries and property damage will often run much higher than these state minimums.

There are plenty of drivers in the area who don’t have insurance at all. While Virginia has instituted a license suspension program for drivers that let their insurance coverage lapse, it takes 90 days for the suspension to take effect. 90 days allows for plenty of time for a driver to get in an accident. Even if the license is suspended, some drivers simply disregard both the insurance lapse and the suspension and continue to drive. Virginia also allows some drivers to forgo insurance entirely. A motorist can drive on Virginia roads and highways with no coverage at all, and all they have to do is pay $500.

Maryland is not nearly as liberal in its insurance laws, levying fines from $150 to a maximum of $2500 on drivers that go without insurance. But these fines mean very little if the driver in question doesn’t obey the law and refuses to abstain from driving. Short of going to the homes of those who have let their policies lapse and confiscating their cars, there is very little that state governments can do to keep uninsured drivers off the road.

Uninsured, Underinsured or Hit and Run Driver Coverage

In some states this type of coverage is voluntary, but because of the high volume of traffic and registered vehicles, all auto insurance policies issued in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are required by law to contain extra coverage in the event of an accident involving an underinsured or uninsured driver.

This coverage also applies for accidents involving hit and run drivers. If your insurance company claims that there is no extra coverage for uninsured or underinsured accidents, contact an attorney immediately. In a hit and run case, proving that the at-fault driver's vehicle made physical contact with yours is crucial in proving your claim.

Unfortunately, an accident caused by the aggressive or reckless driving of a vehicle that does not come into physical contact with yours is not covered by most uninsured motorist policies. Proving that you were struck by a hit and run driver can sometimes be difficult; therefore, it is very important to contact Lewis & Tompkins PC to help you gather witness information, contact the police, photograph your vehicle. You should leave that to your attorney. You should worry about going to the hospital immediately and taking care of your body. Leave the insurance stuff to your attorney.

In any accident situation, you should do the following:

Obtain as many witness names and addresses as possible;

Call the police, and be sure to get a copy of the accident report;

Take as many notes about the accident as possible; and

Be evaluated at the nearest emergency room, and diligently follow your doctor's advice.

Handling Accidents Involving Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

Collecting benefits from an insurance company can be a trying and difficult task. Sorting out the claims between two insurance companies can be even harder. The law firm of Lewis and Tompkins has the experience you need to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We won’t settle for low-ball settlement offers and insurance company stalling tactics. If you or someone you love is having difficulty in receiving benefits in a case involving uninsured, underinsured or hit and run accidents, call Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.

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Lewis & Tompkins
927 15th Street N.W., 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202-296-0666

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