If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in North Mississippi with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may have many questions. Who will pay for my medical bills and property damage? How can I recover my lost wages? Can I sue the other driver?
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman,, we have extensive experience handling uninsured/underinsured motorist accident claims. Our car accident attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the auto insurance laws in Mississippi and will explore all your options for recovering damages.
We know that being injured in a car accident is frightening, and even more so if the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured. You can trust us to protect your interests and handle your claim with the personal attention it deserves. Contact our office today to learn how we can help.
Auto Liability Insurance Requirements in Mississippi
All drivers in North Mississippi and throughout the state must maintain liability insurance and carry proof that the vehicle is insured. The following minimum amounts of coverage are required:
- $25,000 liability coverage for bodily injury or death of one person
- $50,000 liability coverage for total bodily injury or death
- $25,000 liability coverage for property damage per accident
Liability insurance covers medical bills, property damage bills, and other losses of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who are injured or have their vehicle damaged in a car accident, up to coverage limits (drivers can carry more coverage than the minimum requirements).
Also, Mississippi is a fault-based state for purposes of car accidents, which means that the driver who is at fault for causing an accident is also financially responsible for losses related to the accident, including injuries, lost income, and vehicle damage.
An individual who suffers an injury in a car accident can proceed in one of three ways:
- File a claim with their own insurance company (their insurer will then pursue a subrogation claim against the at-fault driver’s carrier)
- File a claim directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier
- File a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver
But what if the driver who caused the accident is uninsured or underinsured? While you can file a lawsuit against that driver, collecting any judgment that may be awarded to you can be difficult. If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on your auto liability insurance policy, however, you can file a claim with your insurance company.
How Does Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work?
Unlike other states in which UM/UIM coverage is required, in Mississippi insurers need only offer this coverage as an option. In short, UM/UIM insurance will cover your medical expenses and any vehicle/property damage (up to the policy limits ) in a car accident caused by:
- An uninsured driver
- A driver who carries the minimum auto liability insurance, which may not be enough to cover your medical expenses and other losses
- A hit-and-run driver
The way it works is that your insurance company takes the place of the insurer for the uninsured/underinsured motorist who caused the accident. There are strict deadlines for filing a UM/UIM claim, however, and insurers often attempt to delay or deny claims.
Insurance companies are in business to make profits; paying auto accident claims may have a negative impact on their bottom line. For this reason, you need to work with an experienced UM/UIM accident attorney who knows how to fight back against insurance companies that put profits ahead of accident victims.
Why Choose Us?
At Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, we have decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies to get our clients the maximum compensation they deserve. Once you become our client, you will work directly with an experienced attorney who will handle all dealings with the insurer and make sure that you are treated fairly.
While we prefer to resolve UM/UIM accident claims peacefully through settlement negotiations, we will take the insurance company to court if they fail to honor the terms of your policy. We may also consider filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver if we determine that they have enough personal assets to hold them financially responsible. Above all, we will put your best interests first and protect your rights
In spite of the fact that auto liability insurance is mandatory, Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured motorists in the country, which makes it wise to carry UM/UIM insurance. If you have been injured in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, we will provide you with informed representation and dependable service. We handle UM/UIM accident claims on a contingency basis, so you will not pay any attorneys’ fees until we get compensation for you. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation.
Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman helps those who have been injured in an uninsured or underinsured motorist accident throughout Northern Mississippi including the cities of Southaven and Hernando as well as the counties of DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica.
