Arizona law mandates that all drivers carry a minimum level of insurance coverage. In the event of an accident, this insurance is intended to cover the losses of those who suffer injuries or property damage. While most drivers comply with these requirements, a significant number in Arizona remain uninsured.
Securing fair compensation after a car accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver in Tucson can be challenging. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group are here to help. We can guide you through filing a claim with your own insurance, pursuing the at-fault driver, and exploring additional sources of coverage to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
What the Law Requires
Arizona Revised Statutes §28-4009 requires anyone registering a vehicle in the state to have insurance coverage. The minimum coverage limits are $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
Given the cost of healthcare, the minimum coverage may be insufficient if an injury requires a trip in an ambulance, an overnight hospital stay, or surgical intervention. People who obey the law and obtain the minimum insurance coverage are often underinsured because they lack enough coverage to reimburse reasonable losses.
At fault drivers are personally liable for the harm they cause. When an uninsured or underinsured motorist has assets, a Tucson attorney could bring a claim against them and obtain a judgment. However, collecting on the judgment is often time-consuming and expensive.
Turn to Uninsured Motorist Coverage First
Companies selling liability insurance for drivers must also offer uninsured/under insured motorist (UIM) coverage. The coverage is optional, but a driver who declines it must do so in writing. The coverage limits for UIM are the same as the coverage limits on the driver’s liability policy.
When an at fault driver does not have adequate insurance or is underinsured, UIM should pay an injured person’s losses. However, insurers can be reluctant to pay out on these policies and it can be challenging to negotiate an appropriate settlement.
When the insurer does not make an adequate offer under a UIM policy, the injured person cannot sue the insurer. They must follow the dispute resolution process set out in the insurance contract, which typically calls for binding arbitration. Attorneys at Phillips Law Group in Tucson are skilled at presenting UIM cases for arbitration and obtaining favorable settlements for injured people.
Finding Other Sources of Coverage
Sometimes, other parties’ conduct contributes to a vehicle accident. In that case, those parties may have insurance coverage that can contribute to reimbursing an injured person’s losses.
For example, if a mechanical defect in one of the involved vehicles was a factor in the crash, the vehicle manufacturer might have liability. If a defective traffic control device or poor road maintenance contributed to the accident, a local government might be liable. Other potentially liable parties include the property owner where the crash occurred, other drivers, and if the at fault driver was drunk, the bar or restaurant that served them.
The Tucson attorneys at Phillips Law Group will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash to identify all potentially liable parties. By increasing the pool of potential insurance coverage, they increase the likelihood of an injured person receiving fair compensation.
Consult a Tucson Attorney After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver
When you are involved in an uninsured/underinsured car accident in Tucson, get legal help immediately. Finding sources of coverage and negotiating a reasonable settlement requires experience and legal expertise.
The attorneys at Phillips Law Group have been serving injured people in the Tucson area for decades. Reach out today to arrange a free consultation.
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