People are usually shocked when they find out the driver who caused the crash either had no insurance at all or barely enough coverage to matter.
It happens constantly.
And one of the biggest misconceptions we hear is:
“Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
That’s often wrong.
If you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your own policy may include uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage that can help compensate you for injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
These cases can involve:
• Drivers with no insurance
• Hit-and-run accidents
• Drivers carrying only minimum coverage
• Serious injuries where the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient
• Disputes with your own insurance company over UM/UIM coverage
A lot of people pay for this coverage for years without ever realizing it exists until they need it.
We help clients throughout Delaware understand what coverage may be available and how these claims actually work.
Insurance companies do not always make this process easy.
People are often dealing with:
• Confusing policy language
• Insurance adjusters giving incomplete information
• Disputes about who caused the accident
• Delays in approving claims
• Settlement offers that don’t come close to covering the injury
And many people feel uncomfortable pursuing a claim through their own insurance company because they assume:
“It’s my insurance company. They’re supposed to help me.”
Sometimes they do. Sometimes they absolutely do not.
Once a serious injury claim is involved, your insurer is still a business trying to minimize what it pays out.
That’s why understanding your coverage matters.
In Delaware, uninsured motorist coverage is generally included unless it was specifically waived. In Pennsylvania, insurers must offer it, although drivers can reject it. A lot of people do not realize they have coverage until after the crash.
These cases are different because you are often dealing directly with your own insurance company instead of the at-fault driver’s insurer.
That changes the dynamic.
Your insurer may:
• Challenge the seriousness of the injury
• Argue about fault for the accident
• Dispute the value of the claim
• Delay the process
• Try to settle the case cheaply
We see these situations all the time.
And many clients come to us frustrated because they expected their own insurance company to be easier to deal with.
Depending on the case, we may investigate:
• Available UM/UIM coverage
• Whether additional policies apply
• Fault disputes
• Medical records and damages
• Whether stacking or additional coverage may exist
If you were seriously injured and the at-fault driver had little or no insurance, we can help you understand what recovery options may still be available.
That’s common in uninsured motorist situations.
A lot of people assume there is no claim because the other driver lacked insurance. Others assume their own insurer will automatically treat them fairly.
Neither assumption is always correct.
You should strongly consider speaking with a lawyer if:
• The driver who hit you had no insurance
• The available insurance coverage is too low to cover serious injuries
• The crash involved a hit-and-run driver
• Your insurance company is delaying or disputing the claim
• You suffered significant injuries or missed work
Sometimes there is substantially more coverage available than people initially realize.
We can review your case to help clarify what policies may apply and whether the claim is being handled appropriately.
You work directly with attorneys
When you contact our office, your case is reviewed by lawyers who personally handle serious injury claims — not a call center or volume intake operation.
We know how these insurance claims work
Uninsured motorist claims are often far more complicated than people expect. We regularly deal with disputes over coverage, fault, damages, and settlement value.
We give straightforward advice
We’ll explain what coverage may exist, where the issues are in the case, and what we realistically think can be done.
No upfront legal fees
These cases are handled on a contingency basis. If we do not recover compensation, you do not pay attorney’s fees.
A lot of injured people make that mistake.
The reality is that uninsured and underinsured motorist claims can involve significant compensation depending on the available coverage and the seriousness of the injuries.
But insurance companies usually are not going to volunteer every available option or maximize the value of the claim for you.
If you were injured by a driver with little or no insurance, we can help review the policies involved, investigate the claim, and explain what recovery options may still exist.
Speaking with an uninsured motorist lawyer in Wilmington, DE early can help avoid mistakes that may affect the claim later.
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Your Trusted Advocate in Times of Need
With decades of experience in personal injury, workers' compensation, and employment law, Ciconte Wasserman brings a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to every case.