Being involved in a motor vehicle accident involving an uninsured or under-insured driver can feel like a hopeless scenario. If they are not prepared to cover the cost of bodily injury and damages, who is? What if the driver cannot be identified because they fled the scene?
New Jersey state law requires all motorists to carry “uninsured/under-insured motorist bodily injury/uninsured motorist property damage” auto insurance. To put that simply: if you are a driver in NJ with up-to-date auto insurance, you have uninsured / under-insured motorist coverage.
At The Law Office of Fredson Statmore Bitterman, our attorneys have 50 years of experience assisting clients to recover full and fair compensation when they are injured in uninsured/underinsured car accidents in Bloomfield.
Uninsured/Under-insured Insurance Coverage
There are three primary situations where your uninsured motorist coverage may come into play after a Bloomfield accident:
- Uninsured negligent driver
- Underinsured negligent driver
- Hit and run accident where the driver cannot be identified
If the driver at fault is uninsured, we will work directly with your auto insurance company to recover the compensation you are owed. In the situation where the negligent driver is underinsured, it is still possible to receive compensation from their insurance provider. Often times this will be insufficient, and our attorneys can then work with your insurance to recoup the remainder.
What Constitutes Being “Underinsured”?
Our clients have found “underinsured” to be a relatively fluid term, but at the end of the day, it simply means the insurance coverage of the driver responsible for your accident is insufficient for compensating your injury damages. There are several possibilities that could lead to a negligent driver being underinsured. Some examples are as follows:
- You are severely injured in the accident and accrue major medical costs
- You are injured and subsequently miss work for an extended period of time
- Your car is significantly damaged or totaled
- There is property damage beyond just the vehicles involved in the auto accident
- You and/or multiple passengers are injured in the accident
- You and/or other passengers are injured, leading to pain and suffering
In all of these scenarios, the responsible driver may have insurance coverage which covers part of these damages, but not all. When this is the case, our Bloomfield attorneys can help you file an under-insured motorist accident claim, and ultimately make a successful recovery.
Compensation for an Uninsured Motorist Accident
Auto Insurance companies in Bloomfield will often attempt to quickly close cases involving uninsured or under-insured motorists. They may offer a low-ball settlement quickly in order to entice victims to take less compensation than they are rightfully owed, so it is important to review any documents your insurance company presents you with our experienced attorneys before signing away your rights and financial needs unknowingly.
NJ Auto Insurance law is complicated, and is further complicated when an uninsured or under-insured driver is responsible. Insurance companies may try to falsely claim unlawful driving by the injury victim in order to avoid paying full and fair compensation, through the legal mechanic of comparative negligence.
Contact Our Attorneys After a Bloomfield Uninsured/Under-Insured Car Accident
The Law Office of Fredson Statmore Bitterman has an extensive history resolving uninsured and underinsured car accidents in Bloomfield. Rely on our experience to help you make the recovery you and your family needs. Call today.
