Getting into a car accident can massively disrupt your everyday life, and all the more so when the other driver does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. You can overcome the issue with your own underinsured motorist coverage, which raises the question of how much you can get from an underinsured motorist claim.
Our team at Sargon Law Group is passionate about helping injured motorists across Maricopa County in securing the compensation they deserve after an accident. We’re ready to answer any questions you have about filing an underinsured motorist claim and negotiating a settlement with your insurance company.
How Much Can I Get From an Underinsured Motorist Claim in Arizona?
When someone else causes an accident, underinsured motorist coverage serves to compensate you for monetary damages you incur that exceed the amount that the at-fault driver’s insurance policy covers. How much you can get depends on your own coverage limits and those of the at-fault driver.
The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions outlines the minimum auto insurance coverage limits that all drivers in the state must possess:
- $25,000 for one person sustaining bodily injury or death in an accident
- $50,000 for two or more persons sustaining bodily injury or death in an accident
- $15,000 for damage to others’ property
This means if the at-fault driver was only carrying the minimum amount of auto insurance coverage and caused you to suffer $30,000 worth of injuries, you could recover $25,000 in compensation from their insurance policy. You could then recover up to the remaining $5,000 of damages you suffered through an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance provider.
Underinsured motorist coverage varies from policy to policy. Your car accident attorney can help you understand the terms of your coverage and evaluate exactly how much you can get from an underinsured motorist claim.
What Do I Need To Know About Filing an Underinsured Motorist Claim?
The first thing to know is that underinsured motorist coverage differs from uninsured motorist coverage. The latter covers your damages if the at-fault driver illegally neglects to carry any auto insurance, while underinsured motorist insurance makes up the difference when the at-fault driver’s coverage is insufficient to compensate you for all your losses.
Neither of these coverage options is mandatory in Arizona, but choosing to carry them both can protect you in a wide range of scenarios.
Keep in mind that an underinsured motorist claim is something you file with your own insurance company. However, knowing how much you can get from an underinsured motorist claim does not mean your insurance provider will make it easy for you to receive that compensation. Your insurance company is a business that serves its own interests above yours, so be wary of lowball settlement offers and questionable tactics that an insurance adjuster might use to get you to accept less than you deserve.
Get More With Sargon Law Group
If your insurance policy contains confusing or vague terminology, or if the insurance company is making it difficult to know how much you can get from an underinsured motorist claim, then you need legal representation to level the playing field.
The personal injury lawyers at Sargon Law Group can collect compelling evidence and negotiate with insurers on your behalf. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve a favorable outcome.