When you are involved in a hit-and-run accident and it is not possible to identify the driver who hit you, filing a claim under your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) policy can provide you with a source of financial compensation. For insurance purposes, a hit-and-run is treated similarly to an accident involving an uninsured driver, and filing a successful UIM claim can be critical to your physical, financial and emotional recovery.
However, filing a successful UIM claim is not easy. Even though you are filing with your own insurance company, you still need to prove fault in order to secure payment, and your insurance company will not pay unless there is clear evidence of liability. To improve your chances of success, here are four tips to keep in mind:
Tip No. 1: File Your Claim Promptly
As with any other type of insurance claim, when filing a UIM claim following a hit-and-run accident, it is important to start the process with your insurance company promptly. Not only will this help you reach a resolution as quickly as possible, but it will also help limit the number of reasons why your insurance company may have grounds to deny your claim.
Tip No. 2: Keep All Records Related to the Accident
Although Colorado law prohibits insurance companies from offsetting UIM payments against amounts paid under at-fault drivers’ bodily injury liability (BIL) policies, you can still expect your insurance company to seek confirmation that you do not have access to compensation from other sources. Additionally, you will need evidence from the crash site to prove that you were not solely at fault in the accident.
As a result, you should try to preserve as much evidence as possible. For starters, keep your copy of the police report in a safe place, and make sure you have plenty of photos of the damage to your vehicle. As you begin receiving medical bills and statements of benefits, be sure to keep copies of these as well.
Tip No. 3: Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
Speaking of medical bills and statements of benefits, when pursuing a claim under your UIM policy, it is imperative that you follow your doctor’s advice. In addition to attempting to deny coverage due to inadequate evidence of fault, auto insurance companies will also often seek to limit payments for medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering by accusing policyholders of exacerbating their injuries. Follow through with your treatment, rest as prescribed and do not return to work until you have medical authorization to do so.
Tip No. 4: Seek Help from an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer
When dealing with your insurance company after an accident, the best way to protect yourself is to work with an experienced attorney. By hiring an attorney to deal with your insurance company on your behalf, you can avoid saying things you shouldn’t (as well as other potentially-costly mistakes), and you can feel confident knowing that you are seeking full compensation for your injury-related losses. Since injury lawyers handle auto accident cases on a contingency-fee basis, it should not cost you anything out of pocket to hire an experienced lawyer to help with your UIM claim.
Speak With a Denver Injury Lawyer at Levine Law
For more information about how to maximize your financial recovery after a hit-and-run accident in Denver, we encourage you to contact us for a free initial consultation. To speak with one of our experienced injury lawyers in confidence, please call 303-333-8000 or tell us how to reach you online
