St. Louis Underinsured Vehicle Claim Attorneys

Unfortunately, there are times in car accidents or truck accidents when your injuries are serious and the other driver fails to carry a sufficient amount of insurance coverage. Under these circumstances, what steps can be taken to maximize your recovery or that of your loved one?

What Exactly Is Underinsurance?

Unlike an uninsured motorist situation, with an underinsurance claim, the careless driver usually has liability insurance covering his or her car or truck, but they may not have sufficient liability insurance limits to compensate someone injured in a car accident. In that case, the driver at fault may be deemed "underinsured". If the careless driver is underinsured, then the injury victim may be able to make a claim for underinsured insurance benefits in addition to recovering the liability insurance limits of the at-fault vehicle operator.

Is Underinsurance Required By Law?

Also, unlike uninsured motor vehicle coverage, underinsured motor vehicle insurance is not required by Missouri law. This is an optional coverage that can be purchased by a policyholder. Although optional, this coverage can be very important. Frequently, an at-fault driver will only have liability insurance limits to meet Missouri state minimum requirements ($25,000 per person). This is hardly sufficient to compensate someone with serious bodily injury that may include permanent physical or mental injury as well as substantial medical bills, future medical costs and loss of income. Even recoveries in cases involving a wrongful death or catastrophic injury can be limited because of the minimal liability insurance limits of the operator who caused the collision.

When A Lawyer Is Necessary

Underinsured motor vehicle accident claims can also be complicated because of multiple insurance policies with numerous contract issues in each of those policies. In any kind of Missouri vehicle accident where your injuries are serious in nature, you may benefit greatly by choosing a Missouri underinsured motor vehicle claim lawyer who has experience analyzing automobile and truck insurance policies.

What Does The Policy Language Mean?

Often times the answer to whether underinsurance is available is determined by the language of the insurance contracts in relation to how Missouri courts interpret that language. For this reason, underinsured coverage issues are frequently the subject of lawsuits called declaratory judgment actions. In these suits, the court is asked to interpret different portions of underinsured policies purchased by you or the driver of your vehicle. In other situations, a court may have to examine insurance policy language of a policy owned by other members of your household or the household of the injured party. All sources must be sought out to insure that you or your loved one are able to recover full and fair compensation for your injuries. Having practiced law in Missouri for nearly 25 years each, St. Louis injury attorneys John M. Cichelero and Robert A. Strauss both have experience in finding all sources of underinsurance coverage available.

No Fee If No Recovery

Your underinsured claim will be handled on a No Fee If No Recovery basis. If you would like to discuss your claim with either Mr. Strauss or Mr. Cichelero, please email or call toll free at (800) 991-8688.

Both attorneys handle cases in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, St. Francois County, Franklin County, Washington County, Lincoln County, Madison County, Kansas City, Jackson County, Greene County and any other county or city within the State of Missouri.