Uninsured Motorist Attorney in Huntsville

Huntsville Uninsured Motorist Attorney

One of the first things you do after a car accident is exchange insurance information with the other driver. But what if the other driver doesn’t have auto liability insurance? If they do have insurance, what if the expenses from your medical bills exceed the total amount their insurance will cover? An experienced uninsured motorist attorney in Huntsville at Conchin, Cole, Jordan & Sherrod can help with these complex situations and get you the compensation you deserve.

 

How Does Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage Work?

Alabama law requires insurance companies to include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as part of basic liability insurance. However, the law allows drivers to decline this coverage. If you have not declined the uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, you are legally entitled to compensation for an accident with an uninsured/underinsured driver. If you have declined this coverage, you are not legally entitled to compensation. 

To protect parties involved in motor vehicle accidents, Alabama law requires all drivers to have liability insurance and carry proof of insurance in their vehicles. 

The minimum liability amounts are:

You must show your proof of insurance to law enforcement during a car accident. Failure to do so can lead to possible convictions for violating the Mandatory Liability Insurance Law. 

Consequences can include:

 

Alabama Auto Insurance Laws

Alabama law enforcement officers have access to the State of Alabama Online Insurance Verification System, which can immediately verify the insurance status of a vehicle. Drivers who carry false proof of insurance are subject to the same penalties as those who drive without the state minimum requirements for coverage.

Alabama does not require drivers to carry additional policies, such as uninsured, underinsured, and no-fault insurance. Drivers purchase additional insurance as they see fit. Uninsured and underinsured policies can help you recover damages if the party at fault has insufficient insurance.

If you are in an accident and the responsible party is uninsured or underinsured, our uninsured motorist attorneys in Huntsville can help.

 

Making a Claim on Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage

If you make a claim on your policy under the uninsured/underinsured motorist, it is best to do so quickly. Most insurance policies have a small time frame to make a claim, even as little as 30 days.

Once you do initiate a claim, the insurance company will likely investigate your medical treatment and the expenses you incurred from the accident. While many insurance companies act properly and ensure that no fraud is taking place, if your insurance company becomes overly adversarial in questioning your claim, it may be acting in bad faith. They can try shorting you on your compensation or try to outright deny the claim. Having a lawyer can prevent these things from happening and ensure you get the most compensation. 

 

Taking Legal Action Against The Driver

If the other driver’s insurance will not cover the full cost of your expenses, or they do not have liability insurance, you may choose to sue the driver. But this process isn’t easy. It can be difficult to pursue a claim because those drivers often have low incomes. In most cases, if you win a judgment against a low-income driver, collecting the compensation becomes a complex process. This is more reason to let a trusted Huntsville uninsured driver attorney handle the process.