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Understanding Arizona Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motor vehicle coverage helps protect the driver and driver’s passengers injured by another driver who has no insurance. Underinsured motor vehicle coverage helps protect when the other driver does not have enough insurance to pay all damages caused by the collision.

Uninsured and underinsured coverages are important because if the driver causing the accident is uninsured or underinsured, your insurance will “step in” and pay for damages  you sustain, including lost wages and pain and suffering, up to your policy limits.  Without this insurance, you might not recover any compensation for your injuries or damages if the other driver is “judgment proof.”

Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage Constitute “First Party Claims”

Uninsured and underinsured coverage are known as “first party” coverages, because the policyholder has a contract of insurance with the insurance company. If you paid for this coverage, your insurance company has a legal duty to treat your claim promptly, fairly, and in good faith.  If it fails to do so, in addition the payment for your claims, the insurance company could be liable for insurance bad faith.

This is not the case for the insurance company of the driver who hit you.  The insurance company for the driver who hit you has no obligation to treat you fairly. Its only obligation is to its insured (the other driver).  It can drag out the case as long as possible, and oppose your efforts to obtain compensation at every point, even if doing so is not “fair.”

We Help Clients Collect From Their Insurance Company in Vehicle Accidents Caused by Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists

If you’ve been in a vehicle accident, it’s important to identify all existing insurance coverages.  We can help in this process. Besides seeking recovery against the other driver at fault, we can help you recover from your insurance company if the other driver is uninsured or does not have sufficient insurance coverage.