You did everything right, and the driver who hit you had no insurance or sped off before you got a plate. A Hazel Park uninsured motorist accident lawyer helps you turn to the coverage you paid for on your own policy, so a lawless driver does not leave you stuck with the bills. Kajy Law Firm handles uninsured and hit-and-run crashes across Hazel Park and Oakland County, and there is no fee unless we win.
Being hit by someone with nothing to lose feels like the system failed you. It does not have to end there, and your own policy may be the answer.
Call 248-702-6641 or tell us what happened for a free case review.
Table of contents
- What is uninsured motorist coverage in Michigan?
- Why uninsured drivers are a real risk in Hazel Park
- Does no-fault still cover me if the other driver was uninsured?
- How an uninsured motorist claim actually works
- Hit-and-run: the other uninsured scenario
- Why your own insurer fights a UM claim
- What to do after being hit by an uninsured driver
- Why Hazel Park drivers call Kajy Law
- Hazel Park uninsured motorist FAQ
- Do not let an uninsured driver decide your future
What is uninsured motorist coverage in Michigan?
Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, or UM, is optional coverage on your own auto policy that pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot be identified. It is the safety net for exactly this situation, and it steps in where the other driver's missing policy would have paid.
A close cousin, underinsured motorist coverage or UIM, applies when the other driver has insurance but not enough to cover your injuries.
Michigan does not require UM or UIM, so not every driver carries it, but it is some of the most valuable coverage you can own. The state's Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), the agency that regulates auto insurance, describes these optional protections in its auto insurance guidance.
If you are not sure whether you have UM coverage, we can review your policy and find it.
Why uninsured drivers are a real risk in Hazel Park
Hazel Park sits in a part of Metro Detroit where uninsured driving is common, which makes UM coverage especially important here. Roughly one in four Michigan drivers is uninsured, and in the city of Detroit, which borders Hazel Park to the south, estimates run to more than half. Every commuter route that crosses those borders raises the odds that the driver next to you is not carrying insurance.
The traffic patterns add to it. I-75 runs through the city and John R Road and the Dequindre corridor carry constant cross-city driving between Hazel Park, Detroit, and Warren. When a crash on one of those roads involves an uninsured driver, your own coverage becomes the difference between a recovery and a dead end. Our overview of local uninsured-driver crash data shows how often this happens here.
Does no-fault still cover me if the other driver was uninsured?
Yes, your medical care is still covered no matter who hit you. Michigan's no-fault system is important to understand, and understanding personal injury protection in Michigan can help you see how your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits pay your accident-related medical bills and part of your lost wages regardless of fault. An uninsured at-fault driver does not leave you without medical coverage. That protection comes from the no-fault law found in MCL 500.3105 and the sections that follow.
What PIP benefits after a car accident do not pay is your pain and suffering after a car accident or losses beyond their limits. That is where UM coverage matters, because it fills the gap the uninsured driver left. Using both together is how you get closer to a full recovery, and coordinating them is part of what we do.
How an uninsured motorist claim actually works
An uninsured motorist (UM) claim is filed against your own insurance company. While you have paid premiums for years, the moment you file a UM claim, the dynamic shifts: your insurer will treat you with the same adversarial stance they would any opposing claimant.
| Your loss | Who pays it |
| Medical bills and part of lost wages | Your own PIP (no-fault) benefits |
| Pain, suffering, and losses beyond PIP | Your UM coverage, if you carry it |
| Vehicle damage | Your collision coverage, if you carry it |
| Anything from the at-fault driver | Usually nothing, since they are uninsured |
- The Conflict of Interest: Because your pain and suffering are paid out of your own UM policy, your insurer has a direct financial incentive to minimize your payout. This is why you need legal representation even when dealing with "your" company.
- The Coverage Reality: UM coverage is limited by the specific policy limits you selected. Many drivers unknowingly carry low limits, discovering the deficit only after a serious crash. As part of our intake, we immediately review your policy's "declarations page," calculate your available protection, and search for additional policies in your household that may "stack" to increase your coverage.
Filing against your own insurer is more complex than it seems. Call 248-702-6641 and let us handle the negotiation.
Hit-and-run: the other uninsured scenario
A hit-and-run is treated like an uninsured-driver crash, so your UM coverage can still apply. When the driver who hit you flees and cannot be identified, there is no one else's policy to pursue, which is exactly what UM coverage was built for. The claim runs through your own insurer just as it would if the driver had stayed but carried no insurance.
These claims come with extra proof requirements, since the insurer will question whether a phantom vehicle really caused the crash. Physical evidence, witness accounts, and nearby camera footage become critical. We move quickly to preserve that proof and, where possible, to identify the driver, and our uninsured and hit-and-run drivers page covers these cases in more depth.
Why your own insurer fights a UM claim
Your insurer resists a UM claim because it is now the party responsible for the payout. The "friendly" brand you see in commercials behaves very differently once your injuries become their financial liability. You should expect the same tactics an at-fault insurer would use: requests for recorded statements, demands for years of irrelevant medical records, and lowball initial offers.
- Protect Your Rights: You are not required to provide a recorded statement or sign a blanket medical release to your own insurer. These actions often serve only to provide the company with leverage to reduce your claim’s value. We intercept all communications to ensure your rights are protected.
- Contractual, Not Personal: The years of on-time premiums you’ve paid do not buy you "goodwill" during a claim; the company’s obligation is purely contractual. They will pay the bare minimum required unless a professional team forces them to acknowledge the full, fair value of your injuries.
We treat a UM claim with the same aggressive, evidence-based seriousness as a claim against a stranger’s insurer. We hold your provider to the coverage you purchased, ensuring the policy delivers exactly what it promised.
What to do after being hit by an uninsured driver
The steps you take right after the crash protect a UM claim, especially in a hit-and-run. A few specific actions make the difference when your own insurer starts asking questions.
- Call the police and report the crash, which is often required for a UM or hit-and-run claim.
- Get medical care promptly so your injuries are documented from the start.
- Gather evidence, including photos, witness names, and any description of the fleeing vehicle.
- Notify your insurer that a UM claim may be coming, but do not give a recorded statement first.
Handled right, these steps keep the insurer from using a technicality to deny coverage you are entitled to. Technicalities are exactly where these claims tend to fail, so the goal is to give the company no clean reason to say no. A missing police report, a gap in treatment, or a late notice can each become the hook an adjuster hangs a denial on, even when the crash itself is clear. Doing the early steps properly closes those doors before the insurer can reach for them.
Why Hazel Park drivers call Kajy Law
Drivers here call us because we handle only motor vehicle crashes and we know how to press a UM claim against a resistant insurer. Kajy Law Firm has recovered more than $100 million, holds a 98% success rate, and staffs cases with 10 attorneys and over 35 legal professionals. When the fight is with your own company over coverage you paid for, that experience is what gets the policy to respond.
Our Southfield office is a short drive from Hazel Park, and we serve Oakland County clients throughout the week. This work connects to our broader Hazel Park car accident representation, and every consultation is free.
Hazel Park uninsured motorist FAQ
The driver who hit me had no insurance. Am I just out of luck?
Not if you carry uninsured motorist coverage. That coverage on your own policy is designed to pay your injury losses when the at-fault driver has none. Even without it, your PIP benefits still cover your medical bills. We review your policy to find every source of recovery.
I have full coverage. Does that include uninsured motorist protection?
Not always. "Full coverage" is a loose term, and UM is optional in Michigan, so it may or may not be on your policy. The only way to know is to read the declarations page, which we will do with you at no cost.
A hit-and-run driver caused my crash. Can I still make a claim?
Yes, through your UM coverage, because a hit-and-run is treated like an uninsured driver. These claims need solid proof that another vehicle caused the crash, so preserving evidence quickly matters. We help gather it and, when possible, work to identify the driver.
Will filing a UM claim make my own rates go up?
Filing a claim when you were not at fault should not be treated the same as an at-fault claim, and you have a right to use the coverage you paid for. We can talk through your specific policy concerns, but fear of a rate change should not stop you from recovering what you are owed.
How long do I have to file an uninsured motorist claim in Michigan?
UM claims are governed by your policy, and the deadlines can be shorter and stricter than the general injury deadline. Some policies also require prompt notice of a hit-and-run. Because these terms vary and are easy to miss, have an attorney review your policy quickly so a filing deadline does not cost you the claim.
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance or fled. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your injuries. Many policies include both, and we check which you carry so the right coverage is used for your situation.
Do I need a lawyer to file a claim against my own insurance company?
It is strongly recommended for anything beyond a minor claim. Once you file a UM claim, your insurer treats you as an opposing party and works to minimize the payout. A lawyer levels that by handling communications, documenting your injuries, and holding the company to the coverage you purchased.
How much does a Hazel Park uninsured motorist lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, so our fee comes only from a recovery, and we advance the case costs. If we recover nothing, you owe no attorney fee. We explain all terms clearly before you sign.
Do not let an uninsured driver decide your future
You bought coverage for exactly this moment. Let a Hazel Park firm that knows how to make your own insurer honor it take the case. Call Kajy Law Firm at 248-702-6641 or request your free case review. No fee unless we win.