Car Accident Lawyer Virginia Beach

As of July 1, 2024, all drivers in Virginia were required to uphold the state’s minimum mandatory levels of liability car insurance. No longer did they have the choice to opt out of buying auto insurance by paying the uninsured motorist fee. The purpose of this new law is to decrease the number of underinsured or uninsured drivers on Virginia’s roadways. If, however, you should be involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage can help.

The Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can explain your rights and legal options after a car accident. If you were injured during a collision with an uninsured driver, we can help you secure maximum financial compensation via your uninsured motorist coverage. Call us today to schedule your free case review.

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage is, as the name implies, supplemental coverage that is devised to protect drivers involved in accidents with uninsured individuals. UM coverage can also help victims who are injured by hit-and-run drivers.

How Does UM Coverage Work?

Imagine you’re passing through an intersection when another driver jumps a red light and plows into your vehicle. Following the crash, you and the other driver exchange information. When you get home, you contact their insurance carrier only to find out their policy lapsed long ago and they don’t have any coverage to speak of.

If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage:

You may need to rely on additional policies to cover your losses.
Based on your current insurance coverage, you may have to cover your vehicle repairs, medical bills, and other damages out of pocket.

If you have uninsured motorist coverage:

You can file a claim with your own insurer under your UM policy.
They will then cover your medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses arising from your car accident.
The coverage of your uninsured motorist benefits is based on your policy limits.

For instance, if you have UM coverage with a limit of $200,000. If your medical bills, lost earnings, and other losses total $1200,000, your UM policy will cover these expenses. If they exceed your policy limits, however, you could be accountable for the residual expenses unless you purchased additional insurance coverage or choose to pursue additional legal options.

In circumstances where the at-fault motorist lacks insurance coverage, UM coverage offers some security and can protect you from financial hardship caused by another person’s negligence.

Are Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage the Same?

No, they are not. Although they are closely intertwined, these forms of insurance, as well as their differences, are fairly easy to understand. UM coverage offers protection in cases where the at-fault driver does not have any auto insurance. UIM coverage offers protection when the negligent driver does not have ample insurance to cover your losses.

In Virginia, all auto insurance policies are required to include uninsured motorist coverage. It is also worth noting that, in the commonwealth, insurance carriers may not raise your premium for an accident you did not cause.

What Are Virginia’s Auto Insurance Minimums?

As previously mentioned, under SB 951, registering an uninsured car by simply paying an annual fee is no longer an option for Virginia drivers. Instead, every driver will be required to purchase liability insurance that meets predetermined minimum coverage limits. The current state minimums are:

Bodily injury liability: $30,000 is the current minimum coverage required for bodily injury to or death of a single victim in an accident and $60,000 for the injuries or deaths of two or more
Property Damage Liability: The state minimum for property damage liability is $20,000 per accident. This covers any physical damage you cause to another person’s property.

Your insurance policy is also required to include UM coverage. If your liability coverage surpasses the state minimum, then your policy’s UM coverage has to match unless you notify your insurance company that you would like to decline the supplemental coverage.

Other Sources of Compensation After a Car Accident

Depending on the circumstances of their accidents, Virginia drivers have numerous other sources of potential financial compensation for a car accident outside of liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage. An experienced Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can help you investigate all potential sources of recovery, including:

Health Insurance: Your health insurance should cover accident-related medical expenses, including doctor’s visits, hospital bills, prescription drugs, surgeries, and physical therapy.
MedPay Coverage: Medical Payments coverage helps cover car accident-related medical expenses regardless of fault. MedPay can cover both medical expenses and lost earnings.
Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage helps cover any damage to your car arising from an incident other than an accident, such as natural disasters, vandalism, or theft.
Collision Coverage: If collision coverage is part of your insurance policy, it will help cover vehicle repairs regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
Medicare/Medicaid: If you are enrolled in either of these programs, they could cover some of your accident-related medical bills.
Rental Reimbursement Coverage: If your vehicle needs repairs following a collision, rental reimbursement coverage can help defray the cost of hiring a car.
Civil Lawsuit: If you were not at fault for the accident and you sustained considerable losses not covered by your insurance, a skilled lawyer can help you file a civil lawsuit to pursue fair financial compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Workers’ Compensation: If your car accident happened while you were on the clock, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover your hospital bills, lost income, and disability.

It is important to carefully evaluate your insurance policies and understand your coverage. Consulting with one of our skilled Virginia Beach car accident lawyers can help you select the wisest course of action for your unique circumstances.

All We Do Is Injury Law

If you were injured in a Virginia Beach car accident involving an uninsured motorist, it is important that you fully understand your rights and all available avenues of compensation. With more than a century of combined experience, the Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp are here to help you through the personal injury process and ensure you receive the damages you are entitled to.

For example, in one case, we secured a $150,000 jury verdict for a car accident victim even though the insurance company refused to compensate him fairly for a pre-existing condition that was significantly worsened in his accident.

Our firm understands the severe physical, emotional, and financial impacts a motor vehicle accident can have on you and your family. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (833) 997-1774 or fill out the contact form on our website. We have offices in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Hampton.

How Can Uninsured Motorist Coverage Help Me After an Accident?