Injury Attorneys Oregon

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist

In Oregon, it is illegal to drive without some form of car insurance – which makes it all the more important to have uninsured and underinsured motorist attorneys in Oregon on your side. Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident, but it’s an unfortunate reality and a risk we learn to live with every time we get behind the wheel. While we should be able to count on ourselves to be responsible, attentive, and safe drivers, the conduct of other drivers is never as concrete. There are many people who text and drive, drink and drive, or are just plain unsafe or reckless when they’re on the road – and this includes people who don’t have insurance, or are underinsured.

It can be difficult to come to terms with an accident that was caused by a completely irresponsible driver, and the entire process can be frustrating and overwhelming. It’s important to focus on your health if you’ve been injured, but even beyond medical bills you’ll find yourself struggling with repair bills and insurance companies that may or may not be as helpful as they should be. The sad reality is that some people are just irresponsible, and that irresponsibility can lead to real headaches for everyone else. So what can you do, and how can an attorney help you?

Sometimes when a crash happens, the bad driver who caused it does not carry insurance, or not enough insurance. When that happens, if you have been injured, you will need to make a claim against your own insurance. You should file a claim, even if you were not at fault. This is because when you pay your insurance premiums every month, you are paying for Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in addition to all the other coverage you have on your car, truck, or SUV.

This will not cause your rates to go up, and will not cause you to lose your insurance coverage. We ask our clients to let us know if either of those things every happen in response to an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim, and it has never happened. Our office has handled thousands of claims over the years.

Importantly, even if the other driver’s insurance company is offering you its policy limits, you will still have an underinsured motorist claim against your own policy. It is also possible that an attorney may be able to find more policies to cover your injuries. It is worth the call, since the initial consult is free and we will be able to tell you whether we think you need an attorney or not, and why. If we do not think you need us, we will tell that too.

Fortunately, you can turn to a qualified uninsured and underinsured motorist attorney in Oregon to help you get through the aftermath of your accident. In a way, getting hit by someone with no insurance is almost like being involved in a hit-and-run: You were being responsible and obeying the law, and the other driver was broke the law and made your case a little bit more complicated. It can be a difficult process to file a claim against your own insurance, but you need to remember that you’re paying your insurance provider for a reason, and you should expect some kind of compensation for paying them for so long.

In some cases, an insurance provider can be hesitant to pay you the money you need in the wake of an accident. While most insurance companies are relatively reliable, some will wait until the last minute to release the funds you need (insurance companies collect money off of interest, so it’s in their best interest to hold onto your money for as long as possible). Having a good lawyer means you’ll also have someone on your side to negotiate with your insurance provider – we’ll make sure you get the money you need in a timely fashion, and we’ll make sure it’s a satisfactory amount.

Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. An accident can cause serious injury, and serious damage to your car. It’s also a major headache dealing with all the paperwork and claims, and it will take some time to get back into your normal routine. If you were involved in an an accident with an irresponsible driver, don’t hesitate to reach out to Andersen & Linthorst, and get in touch with an uninsured and underinsured motorist attorney in Oregon as soon as possible.