What lawyer can help after a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Delaware?
Ciconte Wasserman, a Wilmington law firm, handles uninsured and underinsured motorist claims for people hurt in Delaware and Pennsylvania crashes. When the at-fault driver has little or no insurance, your own policy may pay. The firm reviews the coverage and pursues the claim as an injury law firm in Delaware, with no fee unless the firm wins the case.
Key points
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver's insurance is not enough.
In Delaware, UM is generally included unless specifically waived; in Pennsylvania, drivers can reject it.
Hit-and-run crashes may qualify, depending on the circumstances and the policy.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage in Delaware and Pennsylvania
Coverage | Delaware | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
Uninsured motorist (UM) | Generally included unless specifically waived | Insurers must offer it; drivers can reject it |
What UM pays | Pain, suffering and injuries, up to the limits bought | Pain, suffering and injuries, up to the limits bought |
Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Applies when the at-fault driver's insurance is not enough | Applies when the at-fault driver's insurance is not enough |
PIP for medical bills | Pays first; cannot be waived entirely | Pays first; can be waived |
Adam Wasserman's view is short: "Your own policy is your safety net." Many drivers believe they are fully protected, but "full coverage" is not a legal term. It usually means collision and comprehensive, which protect the car, not the person. PIP, UM and UIM are the coverages that protect the person.
After a crash, the firm's attorneys for car accident victims review which of these coverages apply. If the at-fault driver is from another state, their insurance still applies, and a crash in Delaware or Pennsylvania can be pursued there. Passengers in serious crashes may also have UIM claims.
Claims against your own insurance company
A UM or UIM claim is often made against your own insurance company, not the at-fault driver's. That changes the dynamic. Your insurer may challenge how serious the injury is, argue about fault, dispute the value of the claim or delay the process. The firm handles these disputes the same way it handles an insurer that won't pay fairly after an accident.
When an insurer denies a valid claim without a reasonable explanation, delays without need or underpays, the firm's bad faith practice takes on disputes with your own insurer.
Hit-and-runs and minimum-coverage drivers
Hit-and-run crashes may still qualify for UM coverage, depending on the circumstances and the policy. Police may not come to the scene unless someone is seriously injured. In that case, gather as much information as you can, document everything and report the crash to your own insurance company.
Some at-fault drivers carry only minimum coverage. When that coverage is not enough for a serious injury someone else caused, UIM may apply.
How Ciconte Wasserman handles UM and UIM claims
Depending on the case, the firm investigates the available UM and UIM coverage, whether additional policies apply, any fault dispute, and the medical records and damages. Clients work directly with attorneys who explain what coverage may exist and where the issues in the case are.
The claim then follows the firm's standard case process: evidence, negotiation with the insurer and preparation for court if needed. Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims are part of the firm's injury law practice and are handled on a contingency fee.
Who this help is built for
The firm represents drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists hurt by a driver with no insurance or too little, people hit by a driver who left the scene, and people whose own insurer is delaying or disputing their claim. Anyone unsure what their policy covers can get an attorney's review of the potential claim, which starts with a free first meeting about the injury.
Talk to a lawyer about your coverage
Call 302-658-7101, email Info@cskdelaw.com or ask about your coverage in a free consultation with the firm at 1300 N King St, Wilmington, DE 19801.
