Welcome to the Blog of The Glassman Law Firm, P.C., St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys

We blog about relevant issues in personal injury law, discuss the misconceptions surrounding personal injury law and some of the most popular cases in the news, inform on the legal and political landscape of tort reform and insurance company lobbying, and provide readers with helpful personal injury information and resources. Please visit www.glassmanlegal.com for more information.

Monday, June 23, 2014

A Hit-And-Run Driver Is An Uninsured Motorist

In the State of Missouri, ALL automobile owners are required to carry proof of liability insurance coverage. This, however, isn't always the case.

The Uninsured Motorist Who Flees:

The reality is many people don't adhere to this law. They get behind the wheel and occupy the same roads as those who have purchased the legal minimum. The inevitable is bound to happen...they cause an accident. You're the victim. They flee the scene, usually because they have no insurance, do not have a license, or are driving under the influence. What recourse do you have against a driver when you can’t find out if he is insured or even identify him? What if your insurance company refuses to accept this type of uninsured motorist claim or compensate you for all damages, including your pain and suffering?

This is a quandary many face in the event of a hit-and-run. They see it as an instance of random bad luck and there is no way to recover for their injuries in this kind of crash.

This is NOT true. That's when a closer look at your very own insurance policy will shed some light. That is when a call to the Glassman Law Firm, can relieve your worry and stress.

A Few Hard Facts...

FACT: When you bring an uninsured claim against your own insurance company, it CAN'T legally cancel your policy or raise your premium.

FACT: A hit-and-run accident is NOT categorized as a “chargeable loss" to your policy. Simply put, it's not your fault. You cannot be punished by rate increases or cancellation.

FACT: A hit-and-run can be a (non-contact) accident.

For example, a negligent motorist causes you to swerve because they were checking their email while driving. He was heading straight at you in the wrong lane, causing you to run off the road into an embankment. The emailing driver flees. You've experienced a non-contact hit-and-run. This is also considered an uninsured motorist claim and you are entitled to recover all losses caused by your injuries, lost pay, medical costs, and pain and suffering from your own insurance company.

What Should You Do?

If you or someone you know has been hit by an uninsured motorist, it is critical that you seek the expertise of The Glassman Law Firm, P.C. Our understanding of the complex and often ambiguously written insurance policies is of infinite value to anyone who has been involved in an accident caused by an irresponsible, uninsured motorist. We will help you recover every benefit and cost that your company is obligated to pay you for uninsured motorist damages.

We will fight vigorously to seek full monetary compensation for all of your pain and suffering, loss of work, medical bills and permanent injuries. Again, if it wasn't your fault, why should you have to suffer these personal and financial losses?