Have you been injured when the other driver doesn’t have insurance in a car accident? Read this blog, then call our Buffalo attorneys today.
I advise clients as an experienced Buffalo Car Accident Attorney that in every automobile insurance policy in New York State, an insurance company has to offer what is called SUM coverage, which is an acronym for Supplementary Uninsured Motorists protection. In most cases, it is what we call the unified endorsement which covers people who are injured by another driver who is uninsured or under-insured. Essentially what that means is if I am involved in a motor vehicle accident and the other vehicle is at fault, strikes me and does not have insurance, then I am able to go to my own insurance company and they will provide benefits to me. Not only will the insurance company pay for my wage loss and medical, but for my personal injuries as well. Essentially what they do is step into the shoes of the other insurance company to cover my losses.
Also, in that same endorsement, there is a thing called under-insurance. Let’s say that I am involved in a motor vehicle accident and I have under-insurance benefits of $500,000. If I get into an accident with someone who only has $25,000 of coverage, I would first go to the insurance company of the defendant or at fault vehicle and get the $25,000 policy from that insurance company. I would advise a client, as a Buffalo Car Accident Attorney, that at this point I would be able to go to my insurance company and I would be eligible to receive an additional $475,000 from my own insurance company if the injuries are significant. That number is calculated by taking my insurance coverage, my SUM coverage which is $500,000, and subtracting from that what the other insurance company already paid, which is $25,000.
If you have been injured in a car accident when the other driver does not have insurance, contact our experienced Buffalo Car Accident Attorneys to schedule your free confidential consultation and legal case evaluation.
This blog was provided by Robert Maranto, an experienced Buffalo Car Accident Attorney.
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