Oklahoma City Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Attorney

Filing an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claim in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, everyone who operates a motor vehicle is required to carry minimum liability insurance in the amounts of $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person/accident and $25,000 in property damage. While this may be sufficient to cover damages in a relatively minor car accident, it is far from enough when it comes to serious collisions. To make matters worse, many motorists in Oklahoma choose to drive without any auto insurance at all.

So, what happens if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist? What if you are involved in a hit-and-run and are unable to obtain the other driver’s insurance information?

This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance comes in. UM/UIM is a voluntary form of insurance in Oklahoma that protects you if you are hit by someone who does not have any auto insurance or does not have sufficient insurance to cover the full cost of your accident-related damages. We can assist you throughout the entire process and seek the maximum compensation you are owed under your policy.

To learn more about UM/UIM insurance, including whether you are entitled to UM/UIM compensation, contact Fulmer Sill at (405) 433-7414 for a free consultation.

Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Mandatory in Oklahoma?

While uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is not required in Oklahoma, there are many reasons to add this coverage to your auto insurance policy.

Driving without liability insurance is illegal in 49 states, including Oklahoma, but the Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that an increasing percentage of the American motoring public risks driving without it. Their estimate is based on a 2009 Insurance Research Council (IRC) study, which approximated that 13.8 percent of motorists nationwide drove without insurance in 2007. In that same study, the IRC estimated that Oklahoma motorists exceeded the national average with 24 percent uninsured/underinsured motorists.

The III anticipates that those figures are on the rise, projecting that 18 percent—or one out of seven drivers—are currently uninsured/underinsured nationwide, largely as a result of economic insecurity and unemployment. If you are hit by an uninsured/underinsured motorist driver or a hit and run driver, UM/UIM coverage may be the only insurance available to compensate you or a loved one for accident-related injuries and damages.

Moreover, tens of thousands of Oklahoma drivers only carry the minimum amount of compulsory liability insurance required by Oklahoma law. Currently, the minimum amount is $25,000, making it among the lowest in the country. This amount may seem like a lot, but due to ever-increasing healthcare costs and the potential for serious injuries, minimum liability limits are rarely enough to fully protect you and your family from an underinsured driver.

If you are hit by a driver carrying only the minimum liability limits and you incur more than $25,000 in medical expenses, you could be forced to pay the difference out of pocket, and you would receive no compensation for items such as lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. Essentially, UM coverage is instrumental in protecting you and/or your family from an uninsured/underinsured motorist or underinsured driver where serious injuries may be involved.

When to File a UM/UIM Claim

There are several instances in which it may be appropriate and/or necessary to file a UM or UIM claim.

These include:

• After a hit-and-run accident
• When the at-fault driver is uninsured
• When the at-fault driver does not have sufficient coverage
• When your damages exceed your standard auto insurance coverage and the at-fault driver’s available coverage

Although you are not required by law to hire a personal injury attorney for help with your UM/UIM claim, there are many reasons to trust the team at Fulmer Sill. Our Oklahoma City uninsured/underinsured motorist attorneys have decades of combined experience and have successfully resolved all types of complex auto insurance matters on behalf of clients statewide. We understand Oklahoma’s insurance laws, including rules regarding UM/UIM claims. Our team is here to guide you through the legal process and, if necessary, pursue the full and fair compensation you are owed in court.

Don’t lose your right to file a claim or lawsuit; call (405) 433-7414 or contact us online right away to learn how our team can help you with your UM/UIM claim. Hablamos español.