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Underinsured Driver Accident Compensation in Ohio

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Injured by an Underinsured Driver? You have Options

The shock of a car crash is alarming on its own. If you’re injured it’s doubly traumatic.

Then you find out the person who hit you is uninsured or underinsured—casting doubt on whether you can recoup the costs of medical bills and repairing your car.

In Ohio, every driver is obligated to carry auto insurance, but that doesn’t mean everyone follows the law.

According to the Insurance Information Institute industry group, more than 17 percent of drivers operate vehicles without adequate insurance coverage, leaving everyone on the road vulnerable to losses in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Drivers without insurance or adequate coverage risk losing their ability to drive for extended periods of time. They also jeopardize all other drivers’ well-being. It’s just plain irresponsible not to have insurance.

If you’re injured in an accident, and the at-fault driver doesn’t have proper insurance coverage, there is still hope.

While an underinsured driver makes it difficult to get the compensation you deserve, an experienced personal injury lawyer can guide you through your options to recover your financial situation after this disruption.

At Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal (HNB), our skilled team of personal injury lawyers have been helping injured Ohioans for 40 years.

Whether it’s going after insurance companies unwilling to pay or taking at-fault drivers to court, we will be with you fighting for underinsured driver accident compensation. There’s no fee for your car accident lawyer until you win compensation.

Give us a call today, because we want you to say, “Helping me, that’s HNB.”

Contact HNB  Contact HNB 

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    What Are the Insurance Requirements for Drivers in Ohio?

    Under Ohio law, every driver must carry at minimum insurance that covers:

    • $25,000 for injury or death of one person
    • $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people
    • And $25,000 for property damage in an accident

    A driver who is issued a ticket, undergoes a vehicle inspection, or appears in traffic court must show they have at least this minimum coverage.

    A driver who fails to show this coverage will lose their driver’s license, license plates and vehicle registration for at least 30 days. They cannot have their license reinstated until they buy and demonstrate they have the required insurance.

    A second offense requires drivers to lose their driving privileges for at least a year. A third offense could lead to a two-year suspension and the loss of their vehicle.

    Auto insurance protects everyone from the costs of damage and injuries that come with vehicle accidents.

    You can take steps to protect yourself against uninsured or underinsured drivers before you ever get behind the wheel by purchasing underinsured motorist coverage (UIM).

    While this is optional, it ensures your own insurance company will cover the costs of an accident that wasn’t your fault.

    Dealing with at-fault drivers without adequate insurance gets complicated quickly. At HNB, we know how to win tough cases for our clients, whether you’re pursuing the underinsured driver or a UIM coverage claim with your insurer.

    Our attorneys have secured more than $500,000,000.00 in awards, benefits and settlements for injured Ohioans.

    If you live in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, or anywhere in Ohio, our underinsured motorist claim lawyers will evaluate your case at no cost to you.

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    How to Win Underinsured Driver Accident Compensation

    When you have UIM coverage, your insurance company should pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering and vehicle damage. Then they seek to recover those losses from the at-fault driver.

    Your insurance may move to settle your claim quickly or avoid paying altogether—they are a for-profit company after all—and insurance payouts cut into their bottom line.

    It pays to have an experienced underinsured motorist claims lawyer with you throughout the process to ensure you get the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

    Your UIM coverage claims lawyer could even sue your insurance carrier for denying a claim in bad faith.

    A skilled lawyer can also help you go after the driver who failed to purchase proper insurance coverage. The at-fault driver remains responsible for all losses, no matter their insurance status.

    A court can force a negligent driver to pay by either seizing their assets or garnishing their wages. This may result in a one-time lump settlement or an arranged payment plan.

    Ohio law typically gives you two years to file a lawsuit after an accident, so it helps to act quickly. You should do everything in your power at the time of the accident to record what happened.

    Take photos, locate witnesses, and above all, call the police. A strong police report is a great starting point on your path to winning compensation.

    Ohio is a comparative negligence state, meaning everyone involved in the accident can be found partially at fault. A police report goes a long way toward showing that the driver who hit you shoulders more than 50 percent of the blame.

    Get an experienced Ohio car accident lawyer to investigate your case. A lawyer gathers the proper documents, talks to the right witnesses, and builds your claim based on solid facts.

    At HNB, we pride ourselves on being detailed and compassionate advocates for our clients. We will explore all your options and fight for what you deserve to address this wrong and move on.

    Call HNB Today  Call HNB Today