Car Accidents Involving Uninsured Motorists

Injury and Accident Attorneys Serving St. Louis, Nearby Missouri, and Nearby Illinois

Although Missouri and Illinois laws require that all drivers have car insurance, many motorists fail to have such coverage, as they may be unable to afford it or they may simply choose not to comply with the law. As a result, it’s crucial that drivers have uninsured motorist coverage so that they are fully protected in the event they get into a car accident with an uninsured driver.

Having uninsured motorist insurance coverage is crucial because it can:

• Cover the costs of your property damage and personal injuries when you are in a car accident with an uninsured driver (and the coverage will not increase your insurance premiums)
• Make up the difference in coverage for your property damage and personal injuries if you are in a car accident with an underinsured driver (meaning that your insurance will cover what is not covered by the other driver’s insurance company).

Quick Summary

• Insurance adjusters may ask questions intended to minimize the severity of an accident or establish partial fault, so the page cautions against making admissions about responsibility or injuries.
• Distracted driving extends beyond cellphone use and can include GPS use, eating, adjusting vehicle controls, grooming, or interacting with passengers.
• Brown & Brown investigates whether distraction or other contributing factors played a role when determining how a car accident occurred.
• After a crash, useful steps include photographing the scene, exchanging driver and insurance information, identifying witnesses, cooperating with police and emergency personnel, and reporting the accident.
• Evidence gathered shortly after the collision can become important when establishing fault and documenting the circumstances of a car accident claim.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

Whenever you have a car accident claim, dealing with insurance companies can be tricky. Therefore, it’s important to point out that:

• Drivers in Missouri and Illinois are required by law to have uninsured motorist coverage as part of their liability insurance coverage. However, insurance companies have very specific rules regarding when they will and will not pay out on these claims and what exactly is covered by uninsured motorist insurance.
  • For example, while insurance companies in Missouri and Illinois will generally not pay on uninsured motorist claims if the uninsured motorist is not found to be at fault in the accident, in Illinois, uninsured motorist claims can be denied if a driver fails to call police and obtain a police report following an accident with an uninsured driver.
• Insurance companies will often deny legitimate claims on car insurance policies for simple mistakes in paperwork or other minor mishaps. Additionally, insurance companies will often try to settle uninsured motorist car accident claims as quickly as possible and for less than a driver may be entitled to. As a result, it’s crucial that drivers in such accidents work with experienced car accident lawyers who will aggressively defend their rights and help them secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses.

If you were involved in a car accident and the driver responsible does not have insurance, Brown & Brown can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us our office in St. Louis ((314) 333-3333 / (573) 333-3333) or dial our Illinois line at ((618) 888-8888 ) to contact attorney Dan Brown today.

Reviewed by Dan Brown, Founding Partner

This content is reviewed by Dan Brown, Founding Partner at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. Since co-founding the firm in 1993, Dan has represented thousands of clients in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases throughout Missouri and Illinois. Before returning to St. Louis to establish the firm, he tried more than 100 cases while working for the Prosecutor’s Office in Downtown Chicago.