What to Expect: Average Settlements for Uninsured Motorist Claims

Being involved in a car accident can turn your world upside down. You may quickly find yourself online, searching for the average settlements for uninsured motorist claims when you find out that the driver who hit you does not have auto insurance coverage. Unfortunately, there is no average settlement in any type of personal injury case, let alone those involving uninsured motorists.

The best way to find out how much compensation you could be awarded after a collision with an uninsured driver is to consult a reputable Birmingham car accident lawyer from Drake Injury Lawyers. Our team can closely evaluate the extent of your injuries and the various ways they have already and are expected to continue to affect your life. This will help us determine how much compensation you should fight for. Here is more about how uninsured motorist claims work and the various types of damages that will determine how much you could be awarded.

Alabama Auto Insurance Requirements

It may surprise you to learn that as much as 20% of motorists in Alabama are uninsured as described by the Insurance Information Institute. However, under the Alabama Mandatory Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Law, all motorists are legally required to carry auto insurance coverage. The law mandates drivers carry a minimum of $25,000/$50,000 per person/per accident in bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage and a minimum of $25,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage.

Since so many motorists violate these rules and regulations, there is an increased risk that you could be involved in a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

How Uninsured Motorist Claims Work

Alabama is a fault state for motor vehicle accidents under the Code of Alabama Chapter 7, the Motor Vehicle Safety-Responsibility Act. This means the at-fault party is expected to compensate you for the total value of your damages. However, most reliable parties have auto insurance coverage in place that will cover a portion of or all of your losses. If the driver who hit you is uninsured or does not have enough auto insurance coverage, you may not be able to file a claim against them or your settlement may be for far less than you were expecting.

Whether the driver who hit you is uninsured or simply lacks sufficient coverage will determine how much compensation you can recover or whether you can recover compensation through an insurance settlement alone. If the party does not have insurance coverage, but you purchased no-fault protection coverage of your own, you may be able to file a claim against your own auto insurance policy.

However, not everyone has no-fault insurance coverage, as it is not required by law. These factors, including the extent of your injuries and their significant impact on your life, make it impossible to determine what the average uninsured motorist claim would be worth.

Recoverable Damages in Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Claims

One of the reasons why there is no true average settlement for uninsured motorist claims is that victims suffer such a wide range of losses. Not everyone will have hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses or deal with excruciating pain on a day-to-day basis. These extreme cases can dramatically skew the results of what would be considered an “average settlement”. However, with the assistance of your Birmingham truck accident lawyer, there are certain types of damages that injury victims may be entitled to recover, such as:

• Emotional distress
• Medical bills and future healthcare costs
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Permanent disability
• Loss of household services
• Personal property damages

Meet With a Respected Car Accident Lawyer in Alabama for Help Today

While there may not be an average car accident settlement for uninsured motorist claims, that does not mean you are not entitled to compensation for your losses. By pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or filing a claim against your own no-fault insurance policy, you still have an opportunity to recover fair compensation. Your highly skilled Birmingham personal injury attorney from Drake Injury Lawyers will do everything possible to hold the uninsured motorist or other at-fault driver accountable.

We may not be able to file an insurance claim against the uninsured motorist, but if someone else’s negligence caused the collision, you may still recoup the total value of your damages. Explore every possible opportunity for legal recourse when you contact our office to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation. You can reach us by phone or through our convenient contact form to get started with your car accident investigation as soon as today.