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Yakima Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

uninsured and underinsured motorist attorney yakima

Did you know Washington State has one of the highest uninsured motorist rates in the country? Your chance of being involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist in Central Washington is between 50-60%. This can have serious financial and health implications for accident victims or loved ones left with serious injuries, and for those involved in wrongful death or hit-and-run accidents.

 

Why is Having the Right Kind of Auto Insurance Coverage So Important?

In the state of Washington, anyone who drives a motor vehicle must fulfill the mandatory auto insurance law by purchasing liability coverage. This type of car insurance pays medical bills, property damage or other costs resulting from a vehicle accident that is your fault, or the fault of your family member who may be driving at the time. Your own liability insurance essentially covers the other party, if the auto accident is your fault.

 

What if I’m in an accident and the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough insurance, to fully compensate for the injuries caused?

When another driver injures you who does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance, you need an additional source of protection and compensation for you and your loved ones, which is separate from your liability insurance policy. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM Coverage), protects you, your loved ones, and anyone in your vehicle if you’re involved in an auto accident with a driver who either has no insurance, or who has some insurance coverage, but not enough to fully compensate you for your bodily injuries. A UIM insurance policy provides a source of compensation and protection in the absence of the at-fault driver’s insurance.

UIM coverage is the only way to protect you, your family members, and others in your vehicle from the high number of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road in Central Washington. Our law firm’s experience is that approximately 25-33% of drivers in our area have no liability insurance – absolutely no insurance coverage at all – notwithstanding state law that requires all drivers be insured.

In addition to a high number of uninsured drivers, there’s another 25-33% of drivers who are insured but carry only the $25,000 per person minimum amount required by Washington law.

What this means is that your chance of being involved in an uninsured motorist accident with an at-fault driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance to fully compensate you for your medical expenses or property damage is between 50-66%. The only way to protect yourself is to buy UIM coverage with policy limits of at least $250,000/500,000 or more.

 

Talk With an Experienced Washington Car Accident Attorney About Your Claim

Before agreeing to settle any car accident claim, including with your own insurance company, talk with an experienced uninsured motorist lawyer. Pursuing a claim under your own insurance should not cause your rates to go up when the car accident isn’t your fault.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can advise you as to whether you have an underinsured motorist claim. For more than 40 years, the underinsured motorist lawyers at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law have been offering clients free case evaluations on insurance claims. Call our award-winning car accident attorneys today for legal advice regarding your potential auto accident case, or complete our online contact form. We take your uninsured motorist injury personally.

Send us a message or give us a phone call at 509-588-0240 to get started now.

Uninsured, Underinsured Motorist Accident FAQs

  • There are nearly 750,000 uninsured motorists on Washington state roadways. The best protection for you and your family is to buy Uninsured/Underinsured (UIM) insurance coverage. This additional coverage protects you and your family members if you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. An uninsured driver is one without any liability insurance. An underinsured driver has insurance but doesn’t have enough insurance to fully compensate the injured person.

  • If you are involved in a car accident with another driver who is uninsured, you will have fewer options to recover for damages suffered, including property damage, steep medical costs, and wage-loss, depending on your situation, i.e., whether either party is uninsured, or who is considered to be at fault for causing the accident, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney like those at Abeyta Nelson Injury Law.

  • In Washington state, the statute of limitations, or time period in which you can file an
    uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist claim, is usually six years but the policy may reduce that time so it’s important you review your specific filing deadline with an experienced personal injury attorney.

  • Every case is unique and must be evaluated independently based on the severity of the collision, nature of the injuries, amount of medical expenses and wage-loss, and permanency of injuries. The lawyers at Abeyta Nelson have more than 100 combined years of experience valuing motor vehicle collision claims. Call any one of Abeyta Nelson’s three offices in Yakima, Ellensburg, or Sunnyside for a free, no-obligation review of your case.

  • Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you are hit by an underinsured or uninsured driver. Washington is a “fault state,” which means the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damages. However, without UIM insurance, the at-fault driver’s lack of insurance, or low limits, will make it difficult for you to recover damages. This is because you will have to recover your financial losses from an individual, rather than an insurance policy. Talk with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident to help you understand your rights.

  • The statutes regarding personal injury and uninsured/underinsured motorist laws vary from state to state and are ever-changing. Resolving UIM cases for car accident clients requires an attorney who is experienced in this complex specialty area of personal injury law. At Abeyta Nelson, our attorneys’ combined experience of more than 100 years provides a significant advantage in recovering all compensation from your injuries. Unfortunately, many who accept an offer from their insurance company are disappointed to later discover they could have received thousands of dollars more had they first talked with a knowledgeable attorney.

  • During the initial consultation with Abeyta Nelson attorneys, it is helpful to bring any documentation that will help support your claim. This information may include medical bills and records, proof that you’ve missed work due to the accident, photos of the scene and vehicle damage, police reports, all correspondence with insurance companies, and your auto insurance policy.

  • Due to the complex nature of UIM law, it is critical to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

  • Working with the insurance companies involved in your claim can be confusing and full of pitfalls. Our experienced attorneys know the laws of motor vehicle liability and insurance inside and out. We handle all contact with insurance companies for you. When you hire Abeyta Nelson our attorneys investigate your case, obtain the necessary medical records and wage loss records, negotiate claims for reimbursement by hospitals or health insurance companies, and ensure all legal deadlines are met. Abeyta Nelson attorneys determine the extent of injuries sustained and then assist in ensuring that medical care is obtained, and bills paid.

Contact Us

Please contact the staff of Abeyta Nelson Injury Law for a complimentary consultation regarding your recent injury. Scroll down to fill out and submit our simple, free and confidential case evaluation form and a staff member will contact you. Or drop by one our conveniently located offices in Yakima, Ellensburg, and Sunnyside.

Toll free: 800.927.2845

E-mail: injurylaw@abeytanelson.com

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Uninsured Motorist Case Results

  • $1.62M

    The largest ever underinsured motorist arbitration award on a personal injury case in Yakima County settled on behalf of a Yakima woman who sustained back and other injuries in a single-vehicle accident

  • $806,000

    settlement for auto repairman who sustained head injury

  • $750,000

    settlement for Yakima man who sustained head, leg and pelvic injuries in head-on collision

  • $700,000

    settlement for 47-year-old man In 18-wheeler truck accident

  • $670,000

    settlement for shoulder injury to 59-year-old auto repair shop owner and back injury to 58-year-old wife injured in car crash

  • $150,000

    settlement for liability and UIM claims for soft tissue injury – (original offer from client’s insurance company was $2,500)

  • Calling Abeyta Nelson was the best move that I made.
    Julie Poppoff - Car Accident Case
  • Right off the bat you feel like all of your worries are taken care of now.
    Hal Mason - Near-Fatal Chest Injury
  • Abeyta Nelson is really in it to make you whole again.
    Kevin Chase - Drunk Driving Accident

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