Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims in Alabama | Belt, Bruner & Barnett P.C.

No fee unless we win.

93 Verdicts and Settlements of One Million or more

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims in Alabama

The car accident injury lawyers at Belt & Bruner, P.C. can help if you’re unsure what to do following your accident or if your uninsured or underinsured motorist auto insurance claim was denied. Uninsured or underinsured motorist claims can be a tremendous help when you’ve been the victim of a crash caused by someone who doesn’t carry insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses. However, the process of making a claim isn’t always simple.

Every state in the U.S. requires vehicle owners and drivers to have some amount of liability insurance. The minimum policy amount may differ among states, but every jurisdiction wants drivers to be able to be financially responsible if they cause an accident. This is because car crashes happen every day, leading to severe injuries and deaths.

Despite the importance of auto insurance, many people don’t pay for any insurance or have a policy with too low of a limit. If you’re in an accident caused by one of these drivers, you may be in trouble. You have no auto insurance provider to turn to other than your own and whether or not your insurer will cover the damage or your injuries depends on your own policy. You may have to have to head to court to recover if your auto insurance claim was denied.

If you were hurt in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist in Alabama, contact our team of experienced car accident injury attorneys in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, or Montgomery today at (205) 933-1500. We understand Alabama law and will explain your legal options.

Minimum Required Insurance in Alabama

Alabama requires a driver’s auto insurance policy to cover both bodily injury and property damage liability. The policy must cover $25,000 for one person’s injury or death in a car accident or $50,000 for more than one person’s injury or death in a crash. The policy must also cover $25,000 of property insurance.

Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers on the Road

Alabama consistently ranks in the Top 10 for the highest rate of uninsured motorists on the road. In 2012, Alabama was No. 7 with 19.6 percent of registered drivers entirely uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The average percentage of uninsured motorists in the U.S. was 12.6 percent that year.

Considering how many people boldly drive on a daily basis without insurance, it’s no surprise that even more people continue to drive while paying for an inadequate policy. People may believe they are insured but not realize they carry a liability policy with limits that are too low to fully pay for injuries and damages an accident.

This can happen because people are uneducated about the law or because people move to Alabama and don’t update their auto insurance. Additionally, visitors to the state might cause an accident and have lower policy limits that satisfy the law in their home states.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims

Who do you turn to when you can’t get help from the at-fault driver’s car insurance? You go to a Birmingham car accident attorney. An experienced car accident injury attorney will explain your legal rights, such as suing the other driver personally for the damages they caused.

Before you think of a lawsuit though, see what coverage you have under your own auto insurance. If you have comprehensive or UM/UIM coverage, you may have your property damage and injury expenses covered by your own policy. An experienced attorney can help you review your insurance policy to determine if you have the right to make a claim with your own insurer. However, if you hadn’t previously purchased this additional coverage, you’ll need to turn elsewhere for recovery.

You may be able to bring a personal injury claim against the driver who caused your accident. This entails suing the driver personally instead of working with an insurance company. In court, your attorney will strive to prove that the other driver’s negligent or reckless behavior caused the accident which led to your property damage and physical and emotional injuries.

You may be able to recover:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Disability Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of relationship with your spouse

However, you will want to work with an attorney experienced not only with winning beneficial settlements or jury awards, but who is capable of following through with obtaining this compensation. It can be a challenge to collect the settlement or judgment after the trial is over.

A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help with Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims

If you were hurt in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you face a difficult road. You’re dealing with getting your vehicle repaired or purchasing a new one while physically and emotionally healing from a traumatic event. Depending on your injuries, you may be away from work for weeks, recovering in the hospital, a rehabilitation facility, or at home. On top of it all, you will need to work with insurance companies and an experienced attorney to ensure you can recover from the costs associated with this accident.

Our car accident injury lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. have settled many cases for $1 million or more, ensuring that accident victims can fully recover from the harm done to them. We have more than 65 years of collective experience handling a variety of personal injury matters, and the trial skills and resources to pursue your accident claim to the fullest.

Call us today at (205) 933-1500 for a free consultation.

See what our clients are saying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Client Reviews

We’ve successfully represented clients who have suffered many types of injuries, and we’ll do our best to pursue maximum compensation for your losses. We will deliver the attention you deserve and take care of all the details of your case so you can focus on recovery.

Read More Reviews

It’s been three years, and during that time they have been in touch with me every step of the way. I can’t thank this firm enough.

Alexandria Carter

google review logo

I would certainly recommend Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C., because of their knowledge and expertise. They’re wonderful to work with.

Heidi Layton

google review logo

He [Keith Belt] worked relentlessly and went above and beyond the call of duty. He’s just an incredible man and an incredible attorney.

Debra Webb

google review logo