Uninsured Motorists
Alabama Uninsured Motorists Law
It is estimated that 1 in 6 American drivers take to the road without any car insurance, and on Alabama's streets and highways the number of uninsured drivers is even higher. Alabama has consistently ranked as one of the five highest states for uninsured motorists since the 1990s.
Current numbers show that this disturbing trend is continuing. In 2008, Alabama had the third highest percentage of uninsured motorists at 26 percent, according to a 2008 Insurance Research Council (IRC) report. The IRC predicts that numbers for upcoming years will only be higher, if Alabama unemployment rates continue to rise.
What does this mean for you?
If you're hit by an uninsured driver, you won't collect any insurance money from that person. But you may be entitled to recover money from your own insurance company. This is known as Uninsured Motorist coverage.
Uninsured Motorist coverage pays money for your personal injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, up to the limits specified in your policy. However, the laws in this area are quite complex (see below) and it is advisable to contact a Birmingham auto accident lawyer who is familiar with the pitfalls associated with them.
The Belt Law Firm has nearly 70 years of experience handling personal injury and accident cases, including those involving uninsured drivers. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for clients throughout the state of Alabama – and we can help you. If you have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one in an accident with an uninsured driver, call the Belt Law Firm to work with an experienced and dedicated car accident attorney who cares about your case. Contact us online or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your Free Consultation.
Even though you may have Uninsured Motorist coverage, it is not unusual for your own insurance company to offer you a settlement that is far less than what your damages are worth. That could mean you will have to pay medical and other bills out of your own pocket.
The personal injury attorneys at the Belt Law Firm are familiar with insurance company strategies, and we will negotiate on your behalf for a fairer settlement. Belt Law Firm's automobile accident lawyers will look for additional sources of insurance to cover your injury and interpret policies to ensure you get the best results. For instance, we may be able to "stack" or combine coverage from other automobile insurance policies you have.
If you are in an auto accident with someone who is uninsured, you should consult with the experienced Birmingham car accident attorneys at the Belt Law Firm. Our auto accident lawyers will provide the attention your case deserves.
For your free uninsured motorist consultation with one of our accident attorneys, fill out our online contact form or call us toll-free at 888-933-1514.
Alabama Uninsured Motorist Law
Section 32-7-23 of the Code of Alabama reads as follows:
Uninsured motorist coverage; "uninsured motorist" defined; limitation on recovery.
(a) No automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death suffered by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle shall be delivered or issued or principally garaged in this state unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto, in limits of bodily injury or death set forth in subsection (c) Section 32-7-6, under provisions approved by the Commissioner of Insurance for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles because of bodily injury, sickness or disease, including death, resulting therefrom; provided, that the named insured shall have the right to reject such coverage; and provided further that unless the named insured requests such coverage in writing, such coverage need not be provided in or supplemental to a renewal policy where the named insured had rejected the coverage in connection with the policy previously issued to him by the same insurer.
(b) The term "uninsured motor vehicle" shall include, but is not limited to, motor vehicles with respect to which:
- (1) Neither the owner nor the operator carries bodily injury liability insurance;
- (2) Any applicable policy liability limits for bodily injury are below the minimum required under Section 32-7-6,
- (3) The insurer becomes insolvent after the policy is issued so there is no insurance applicable to, or at the time of, the accident, and;
- (4) The sum of the limits of liability under all bodily injury liability bonds and insurance policies available to an insured person after an accident is less than the damages which the injured person is legally entitled to recover.
(c) The recovery by an injured person under the uninsured provisions of any one contract of automobile insurance shall be limited to the primary coverage plus such additional coverage as may be provided for additional vehicles, but not to exceed two additional coverages within such contract.
