Why Hire Our Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Lawyer in Lafayette?
If you are in an accident with a motorist who doesn’t have enough insurance, your situation can get complicated quickly. That’s why it’s so important to get legal help from a trusted Lafayette uninsured & underinsured driver accident attorney.
Anderson Blanda & Saltzman is here to provide the representation that you need in these difficult circumstances. Our accident attorneys in Lafayette have more than 100 years of collective experience handling injury claims and have represented more than 10,000 plaintiffs. We know the law inside and out and we’ll fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at (337) 233-3366 to find out more.
What is an Uninsured/Underinsured Driver Accident in Louisiana?
If someone hurts you in a crash and their insurance policy limits are not large enough to cover all of your losses, then your accident is an underinsured motorist accident. The insurer will only pay out up to policy limits, so the other driver simply doesn’t have enough coverage to compensate you.
Louisiana law requires every driver to have liability insurance. The state’s Department of Insurance explains that drivers must buy $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage to pay for physical harm they cause to others. Drivers also must buy at least $25,000 in property injury coverage.
Unfortunately, not all drivers comply with this mandate and, even if they do, the minimum coverage may not be enough to cover all losses. In Louisiana, a driver who is responsible for causing an auto accident is responsible for paying for losses that crash victims experience. This includes payment for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning power
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
These losses can total tens of thousands or even millions of dollars. Since most people don’t have that much money, the law requires drivers to buy insurance. Unfortunately, the limits are relatively low, and not all drivers buy the required coverage anyway.
What Can You Do After an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Accident?
If you are in an accident with a driver whose insurance policy limits won’t cover your damages, your best option is to reach out to a Lafayette underinsured driver accident attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you explore different ways of getting full and fair compensation including:
- Collecting from your own insurer if you have underinsured motorist coverage in place
- Suing the other driver personally to collect from their personal assets
- Identifying others who could potentially be liable for covering losses, such as the other driver’s employer or a car manufacturer
Your underinsured accident attorney in Lafayette can help you evaluate your situation, find the best possible solution, and decide what course of action makes the most sense in your current situation. Pursuing a personal claim against the other driver, for example, could be the best approach but only if they have enough money and assets to actually pay you. If they have little money or no assets, they’re essentially judgment-proof since you can’t collect even if you win.
Getting Support from a Lafayette Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorney
At Anderson Blanda & Saltzman, our firm of personal injury attorneys in Lafayette are experienced in handling claims with underinsured motorists. We will pursue all possible options for getting full and fair compensation, including negotiating on your behalf with your insurer for fair compensation. Give us a call today at (337) 233-3366 or contact us online so we can start working to get you the money you deserve.