Even though Mississippi drivers are required to have automobile liability insurance, there are plenty of people driving on the road that are uninsured. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2019, Mississippi ranked first in the country for estimated percentage of uninsured motorists at 29.4%. If you have been injured in an accident by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, it can seriously complicate things for you. Thankfully, Mississippi has laws in place that impact your claim when you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. For that reason, it is important to make sure you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself and your loved ones.
You File a Claim With Your Own Insurance Company
If you have a policy with uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you can file a claim with your insurance provider to seek compensation for your damages. Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance covers you if you are in a car accident with someone who does not have liability insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance is for when a motorist has the state-required minimum insurance, but still does not have enough liability insurance to cover your injuries and damages.
In Mississippi, UM and UIM insurance are very similar, meaning underinsured drivers are treated the same way as uninsured drivers. This is because the state’s law includes under insured drivers in the definition of uninsured drivers. UM insurance can also come in handy in the event of a hit-and-run. Since you often can’t get a driver’s information in a hit-and-run, filing a claim under your UM insurance is beneficial.
How Do You Know if You Have UM and UIM Coverage?
Check with your insurance agent and your insurance declarations page. Mississippi law states that each automobile insurance policy must include UM insurance. The only way a policy doesn’t have this is if the policy holder rejected it in writing. However, this is not recommended, because this law is in place to help you in the case of an accident with an uninsured driver. If you knowingly or unknowingly rejected UM and UIM coverage, call your insurance agent and request to add it to your policy.
How a Lawyer Can Help
It is important to know that you might not be able to cover all losses and damages with your claim. A lawyer can help you determine your insurance rights, and help you recover all the compensation that you have a right to receive. Often times, you may need to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to seek the rest of the compensation you are owed.
If you or a loved one have been in a wreck with what you believe may be an uninsured or underinsured driver and have questions about your rights, call Burch Law Firm. Our goal is to help guide you and protect your rights and interests throughout this process.
Initial consultations with Burch Law Firm are always free. Whether you have a personal injury claim, a workers’ compensation claim, or even a wills and estate issue in Mississippi, we are here to help you. If your legal needs are not something we can handle, we will refer you to someone who can.