Lake Oswego Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorney

Uninsured Motorists in Oregon

According to the Insurance Information Institute, about 11% of drivers in Oregon are uninsured. This doesn’t even account for the people who come into Lake Oswego from California, where the uninsured rate is over 16%.

There is a real risk that the driver who hit you won’t have insurance coverage. At that point you will only find yourself covered by your PIP coverage, which might not be enough to cover your bills.

This is where uninsured motorist insurance comes in. You can use these benefits when a driver lacking coverage causes your accident. You can also use it after a hit and run where the at-fault driver can’t be found. Although you pay these premiums, you can still use them in these types of collisions. 

Underinsured Motorists

Some motorists might have insurance, but they carry only the minimum: $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person in Oregon. Unfortunately, even moderate injuries can cost more than this. For example, a broken leg and concussion could require a night in the hospital and keep you from working for 4 months. Your out-of-pocket losses will greatly exceed $25,000. Is there any way to receive more than the minimum?

You can always use PIP benefits to pay for medical care. But that’s only $15,000. If you still have losses, you might have uninsured motorist coverage if your uninsured motorist (UM) limits are higher than the at-fault driver’s.

Here’s how it works. Your UM limit could be $100,000. The driver who hit you only has $25,000. That means $75,000 could potentially be available to cover your injuries.

Why You Might Need a Lake Oswego Attorney

Because you pay for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you might assume it’s easy to make a claim. The process of working with insurance companies, gathering all of the medical records, accurately balancing these accounts, and then negotiating with the insurance companies is a battle.  It takes skill and experience to consider and explore all legal options.  Attorney Lance Youd explores multiple angles in the process of getting the best results for his clients. Our team has legal knowledge, skill, and experience to help you maximize and recover the most for your loss.

Anyone hurt in a collision deserves full compensation for their economic and non-economic losses, including: 

• Ambulance transportation
• Diagnostic tests
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation services
• Doctor visits
• Prescription medication
• Lost income
• Damage to their vehicle
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement and scarring

If your insurer fights a claim and the other driver was at fault, contact Attorney Youd. We can review the facts thoroughly and fight for you.

What to Do if You Still Have Uncompensated Losses

Serious injuries like brain injuries and spinal cord damage can leave someone with significant medical expenses, including years of rehabilitation. What do you do once you’ve exhausted all insurance?

Attorney Youd can discuss options, including:

• Adding another defendant who might share liability. For example, a mechanic might have performed sub-par repairs, which made the vehicle harder to operate.
• Suing the at-fault driver’s employer if the accident happened while they were working. In Oregon, an employer has automatic liability for most employee accidents on the job.
• Bringing a bad faith insurance claim if your insurer drags their feet or denies a valid claim. Insurers must act in good faith and are liable when they don’t.
• Suing the at-fault driver personally in court. You can seek a court judgment for the full value of your loss, but recovering compensation could be difficult.

Where available, these options can increase the amount of money you receive for an accident.

Why You Should Choose Youd Law

Any car accident is stressful. Our clients are often in incredible pain and unsure of their legal rights. They might also be unable to go into work, which means an immediate loss of income when they need it most.

You should hire an experienced Lake Oswego uninsured/underinsured motorist accident attorney to help: 

• Collect evidence of the accident, including eyewitness testimony or surveillance video from nearby businesses.
• Analyze the evidence to determine fault for the crash, including whether you contributed to the accident. 
• Coordinate with insurance companies and answer their questions.
• Allow you to focus on your well-being, including rehabilitation and rest.
• Devise a strategy for obtaining the maximum compensation for your injuries, which might include adding defendants.
• Sue a defendant in court for causing your car accident.

Call Our Lake Oswego Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Today

No one thinks they’ll be in a car accident. But when they are, uninsured motorist coverage is an excellent benefit to have. We can review the facts of the accident and coordinate with insurers to make sure you get the most compensation available under the law.

To get legal assistance with a claim, please call Youd Law today, at (503) 399-8967.