If you were injured in a motor vehicle crash, the last thing you want to hear is that the other driver was uninsured. However, even if you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Oregon, you may be able to assert a claim for damages and appropriate compensation from your own insurance company.
In addition to the requirement that all drivers carry liability insurance, Oregon law also requires that those policies include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in a motor vehicle collision in the Portland area, or anywhere in northwest Oregon, we may be able to help. Please call Portland insurance attorney J. Clay McCaslin today for a free evaluation of your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.
Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements
Despite that all drivers are required by law to carry liability insurance, the truth is that many drivers in the state of Oregon–and throughout the U.S.–do not. Of those drivers who do carry liability insurance, unfortunately, many often choose the minimum coverage of $25,000. In some cases, that amount will barely a put a dent in the potentially massive expenses and losses you may be facing if you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash. Fortunately, you may be able to turn to your own insurance company if you have sufficient UM/UIM coverage.
As a result of recent rulings from the Oregon Supreme Court, you may now “stack” your damages and losses on top of any damages you receive from the at-fault driver’s insurance company where that driver’s insurance coverage is insufficient to fully compensate you for your injuries. Unlike the previous law that went into effect as of January 1, 2016, this is now true even if you have the same coverage limit as the underinsured driver. In general, it is a good idea to purchase additional UM/UIM coverage above and beyond the minimum coverage required by law so that you will be protected if you ever have the misfortune to be seriously injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Why You Need an Attorney
When you purchase an auto insurance policy from an insurance company, you expect that your needs will be taken care of in the event that you are injured by a driver who turns out to be uninsured or underinsured. You pay your premiums and expect the insurance company to hold up its end of the deal. Unfortunately, however, if you are find yourself in this situation, you may also find that you are not in good hands with your insurance company, and that your insurance company is not on your side.
Insurance companies are infamous for delaying, denying, and underpaying legitimate injury claims. If you are injured as a result of the negligence of an uninsured or underinsured driver, there is a good chance that you will have to fight your insurance company in order to recover the full benefits to which you are entitled.
To collect the benefits to which you are entitled under your UM/UIM coverage, you need the services of an insurance attorney experienced in interpreting the fine print and holding the insurance companies accountable for paying the full amount of benefits to which you are entitled under the insurance policy that you purchased and for which you have paid premiums all these years.
We are here to help. Call the Law Office of J. Clay McCaslin today at 503-239-1910 for a free evaluation of your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.