Unlike potholes, construction zones and rainy weather, unseen hazards roam our streets and highways causing problems for responsible drivers: the Uninsured and Underinsured motorists. An uninsured motorist drives his vehicle with no liability coverage, and the underinsured motorist has some liability insurance, but not enough to pay for the damage he causes.
Automobile insurance is generally divided into two distinct categories: (1) bodily injury and (2) property damage. Currently, under Arizona law, a motor vehicle is required to have merely minimum liability insurance: for bodily injury, only $15,000.00 per person, $30,000.00 per accident; for property damage, only $10,000.00. Obviously, with today's rising medical care costs and new car prices (and repair costs), even the legal minimums are not always enough to pay for the medical bills, pain and suffering and property damage caused by an accident. Arizona law no longer requires each automobile policy to have mandatory uninsuredand/or underinsured motorist coverage. Each insurance company is simply required to offer such coverage in writing, but you are free to decline one or both coverages. Sometimes even drivers that do have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage do not have enough. And, often, a driver claims to have "full coverage" only to find out ? after an accident ? that he does not have uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage.
The probability of an accident being caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist is very high, since those drivers are not generally responsible, anyway. If you are in an accident with one of those drivers, how do you get your vehicle repaired or replaced? How do you pay for a rental car? Can you recover for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering? What if the driver has insurance, but is underinsured?
At Roberts & Rowley, we have extensive experience in handling personal injury claims, and have handled a multitude of automobile accident cases. We understand uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. We understand your frustration, and we can help you through every step of the process, from helping you with rental car details to filing a law suit and going to court with you, if necessary, to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.
If you have any questions, we will gladly meet with you in person or speak with you by telephone, at no charge to you. We are happy to accommodate your schedules and will come to you, if you prefer.
If you have any questions about a car accident or any other personal injury matter, call Kevin Chapman at Rowley Chapman Barney & Buntrock, Ltd. (480) 833-1113.
