New York Uninsured Motorist FAQs

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as one of the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys, and His Team of Aggressive, Tenacious, and Hardworking Attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., Distinguished as one of the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms, Battle to Obtain the Best Result for Victims Seriously Injured in Uninsured Motorist Accidents in Buffalo, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; Rochester, New York; Throughout New York State and Beyond.

Getting into a car accident can be a very catastrophic ordeal, especially when the other driver is not insured. Car crashes have the potential to cause devastating consequences, such as broken bones, complete paralysis, permanent disability, and even death. The long-lasting consequences of some car accidents on victims and their families can be heartbreaking. The last thing a car accident victim needs is to be troubled about obtaining adequate compensation. According to data from the Insurance Research Council (IRC), in 2015, approximately 1 in every 8 drivers was uninsured. In New York State, roughly 5% of motorists do not have insurance coverage. Car insurance is required by law to provide financial protection by ensuring that person who causes an accident has the money available to compensate for those who have suffered injuries. If the other driver is uninsured, it can be extremely difficult to obtain adequate compensation. The best option might be to file a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage policy. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. understands that you may have a lot of questions and has put together a series of uninsured motorist FAQs. If you, or a loved one, have suffered injuries or worse in an uninsured auto accident, you need the best attorney in Western New York to pursue your claim and hold those responsible accountable.

Jed Dietrich, Esq., distinguished as a New York Super Lawyer, and his elite team of uninsured car accident attorneys in Buffalo, New York, at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., strive to provide the highest level of personal injury service to victims of car crashes. Our knowledgeable team will take immediate action to file a lawsuit and preserve your rights. We will gather evidence, systematically investigate your collision, and determine who should be held liable. Our experienced car accident lawyers will evaluate your case and determine a fair assessment of all your damages. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to resolve personal injury claims. If you have questions or need help after an accident, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our highly qualified team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at (716) 839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form.

If you would like to learn more, below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding uninsured motorist accidents.

1. What should I do if I’m involved in a crash with an uninsured driver? If you have been injured, the first thing that you should do is seek immediate medical treatment. Call the police so that they can file an accident report. Before help arrives, try collecting as much evidence as possible to support your case. Taking pictures of the scene of the accident, damage to the vehicles involved, and your injuries can be used to strengthen your injury claim. Furthermore, try to identify any potential witnesses and obtain their contact information. After the initial shock of the accident wears off, you should call Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a Best Lawyer of America, and his team of highly experienced uninsured motorist car accident injury attorneys.

2. What is underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage? Unfortunately, some at-fault drivers do not carry insurance policies or sufficient insurance to cover all of the damages. In these types of situations, victims can file a claim through their underinsured motorist (UIM) or uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM/UIM claims involve having your insurance company compensate you for the motorist who injured you. Without UM/UIM coverage, your only viable option might be to file a lawsuit against the responsible driver and hope that he or she has enough money to compensate you.

3. How do I know if I have UM/UIM coverage? New York State law requires all motorists to obtain uninsured motorist coverage. You have to purchase UM coverage with limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Most insurance companies classify underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage together, so you get one policy that protects against both situations. We highly recommend considering purchasing a policy containing more than the minimum required UM/UIM coverage.

4. How can I file a UM claim after my accident? You file the UM/UIM claim with your own insurance company. You have to contact your insurer, inform them of the circumstances surrounding your accident, and show that the other motorist did not have adequate insurance to cover your damages. Additionally, you will need to demonstrate that the other driver was at-fault for your accident.

   WERE YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN UNINSURED MOTORIST IN BUFFALO, NIAGARA FALLS,
   ROCHESTER OR OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE?

   CALL JED DIETRICH, ESQ. AND HIS TOP RATED AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED TEAM OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK UNINSURED MOTORIST ACCIDENT INJURY
   ATTORNEYS AT (716) 839-3939 NOW TO OBTAIN
   THE HELP THAT YOU NEED!

5. Do I need a lawyer if I am injured in an accident involving an uninsured driver? The importance of hiring an experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled accident attorney cannot be stressed enough. Our immediate involvement in the wake of an accident can make a world of difference in your case. Your insurance company may request documentation from you to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and prove that you are eligible to file a claim. Having a lawyer to assist you with collecting evidence, filing a claim, and negotiating with the insurance company is highly recommended. Most insurance companies are only concerned with saving money. The insurance company will have a team of experts working on getting you to settle for as little as possible. Therefore, it is crucial to retain a lawyer to level the playing field and represent your interests.

6. Should I accept the first settlement offer from my insurance company after an accident with an uninsured driver? You should never agree to take an insurance company’s settlement offer before consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney. Even your own insurance company may attempt to downplay your injuries and try to make a lowball settlement offer. However, once you accept an insurance company’s settlement offer, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you initially thought, you will be unable to seek additional compensation. Essential future surgeries and treatments, being unable to hold a job, and any further complications that may arise could significantly increase your actual damages. While settling your claim early may be tempting, it may result in getting significantly less compensation than you deserve.

7. How can the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. help you? Our battle-tested attorneys can assist you in searching for all possible sources of insurance coverage, collecting evidence required to demonstrate your claim for damages, understanding the UM/UIM coverage available through your insurance company, negotiating the highest possible settlement with your insurance company, and thoroughly reviewing all settlement offers to confirm that the insurance company being fair and reasonable.

8. What if the insurance company denies my claim? If your insurance company unjustly denies your claim or treats you unfairly, this could be considered a violation of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in your contract. Insurance companies are obligated to act reasonably when assessing and paying all claims. When an insurance company acts in bad faith, you may be entitled to file a bad-faith lawsuit against them to obtain monetary compensation for its unjust deeds. The compensation in this type of case could include damages that the insurer should have already compensated you for your accident, compensation for further damages, and punitive damages.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has exclusively handled serious personal injury cases throughout the United States since 1999, including numerous uninsured motorist lawsuits. In the unfortunate case that you suffered injuries because of the carelessness or negligence of an uninsured driver, allow Jed Dietrich, Esq., distinguished as an American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, and his team of disciplined, dedicated, and determined Buffalo, New York uninsured driver accident attorneys to fight for you. The last thing you need is to be worried about obtaining sufficient compensation. While you focus on recovering and getting your life back together, we will pursue the compensation that you and your family deserve. Should you have further inquiries or need assistance after an unfortunate accident, we invite you to contact us for a complimentary case evaluation. We would be honored to speak to you about your possible claim. Call us today at (716) 839-3939.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!