Tips For Michigan Car Accident Victims | Michigan Car Accident Lawyers

What is an Underinsured Driver?

If a Michigan driver’s auto policy can’t pay for all of the damages they’re responsible for after a car accident, they are considered an underinsured driver.

This may be the case if they carry the bare minimum insurance as required by the state of Michigan. Here are the basic levels of car insurance coverage required of Michigan drivers as of July 2, 2020:

• $250,000 Bodily injury per person
• $500,000 Bodily injury per accident

To reduce these amounts even further, Michigan drivers can also sign a waiver to lower the bodily injury coverage limits to $50,000 and bodily injury per accident coverage limits to $100,000.

However, it’s important to recognize that some accidents are worse than others, with severe consequences that can total hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Thus, some levels of insurance coverage might not be enough to cover the expenses of an accident, making that driver an underinsured motorist.

What Happens if You’re in a Michigan Car Accident With an Underinsured Driver

Michigan is a no-fault state. That means each driver’s car insurance pays for bills and expenses related to car accident injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and attendant care.

However, no-fault benefits don’t cover everything related to a car accident. For example, there may be other damages from the accident that are not covered by no-fault benefits, or there may be greater expenses beyond those covered by your own insurance policy as explained earlier.

In this case, if you have underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), you have legal options that may allow you to recover damages. If you don’t have UIM, however, there would be no legal recourse against the at-fault driver.

How Underinsured Motorist Coverage Works

If you are involved in a Michigan accident with an underinsured driver, your own insurance policy’s underinsured motorist coverage helps you receive the compensation you deserve.

This coverage steps in to compensate for the shortfall between the at-fault driver’s insufficient insurance coverage and the actual costs of your damages. These damages can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

However, it’s important to note that your insurance company may require you to file an underinsured motorist lawsuit that names the at-fault underinsured driver as the responsible party.

If this is the situation you’re facing, then you need a Michigan car accident lawyer with the experience to know what to do at each step of your lawsuit. A knowledgeable Michigan car accident lawyer can also help you avoid being taken advantage of by insurance companies during this process.

Kajy Law’s car accident attorneys have helped countless Michigan residents file their underinsured motorist lawsuit and are ready to help you.

Are Uninsured Drivers and Underinsured Drivers the Same Thing?

In Michigan, uninsured drivers and underinsured drivers are not the same thing.

Here is the biggest difference between uninsured and underinsured drivers:

• Uninsured drivers don’t have an active car insurance policy at all. Maybe they never had it, or they didn’t renew it. Either way, it wasn’t an active policy when they were involved in an accident.
• Underinsured drivers simply don’t have enough car insurance to cover all of the damages from an accident they were found to be at-fault for.

To put it simply: one doesn’t have any auto insurance, while the other doesn’t have enough insurance coverage. However, both types of drivers can cause major problems if you’re involved in an accident with them.

Knowing all that’s at stake, our Michigan car accident attorneys strongly encourage drivers to purchase both uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. Some auto insurance companies offer both types of coverage in a bundled package at a discounted rate.

Need Help Handling a Michigan Car Accident With an Underinsured Driver?

The consequences of a car accident can last a lifetime, with far-reaching effects that impact your daily life, your health, your work, and your family life.

Knowing how serious Michigan car accidents can be, you need proven legal representation that can handle everything related to your accident case. Let our attorneys provide the answers and help you need. Simply fill out our contact form or call us today and speak with an attorney for free.

Kajy Law’s attorneys have fought and won over 2,500 cases for our clients. That Having helped Michiganders includes successfully handling Detroit car accidents, Southfield car accidents, and accidents across Michigan.

Contact Our Michigan Auto Accident Lawyers Today

The experienced car accident lawyers at Kajy Law have the knowledge and legal insights needed to help you win your car accident case. With a 98% success rate, you can trust them to successfully manage every aspect of your case and maximize the compensation you receive.

Get help today by setting up a free consultation. Call us at 248-702-6641 or use our contact form.