Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyer You Can Count On

Hit by an uninsured driver in Colorado? Our legal team can help you

One of the most frustrating types of car accidents to deal with is a crash caused by an uninsured driver. Because the driver who caused your accident does not have insurance, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about how you will pay for your accident expenses. Fortunately, you’re not alone. We can help.

Uninsured motorist accident attorney Stephen A. Longo and his talented legal team at The Longo Firm, LLC in Colorado Springs know how to handle complex legal cases. Our knowledge comes from working with numerous injury victims hit by an uninsured driver and helping them obtain the money they deserve for their car accident.

We also believe it’s important to treat clients with respect. That’s why we promise to work hard to earn your trust. You can contact attorney Longo directly anytime you want on his personal phone to find out the status of your case. We work this way because we believe we should be accessible on your terms. Your best interests come first here.

Are drivers required to have car insurance in Colorado and Arizona?

Each state has its own unique rules and regulations when it comes to insurance requirements for drivers. In Colorado and Arizona, for example, all drivers are required to have some form of car insurance in order to legally operate a vehicle in the state. In particular, drivers in both states must have a minimum amount of liability insurance, a term used to describe insurance that pays for accident-related expenses (medical bills, replacement income, vehicle repairs, etc.) for people injured in an accident caused by the driver. Specifically, liability insurance pays for accident expenses in which a policyholder is found legally liable (responsible) for causing the accident.

As a result, accidents caused by uninsured drivers can be extremely complicated. This is why it’s important to consult with a lawyer right away if the at-fault driver who caused your crash does not have any insurance.

What is the minimum car insurance requirement in Colorado?

In Colorado, the minimum amount of car insurance all drivers must have is commonly referred to as a 25/50/15 liability policy. This means each driver in Colorado must have:

$25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person. This type of insurance pays for accident expenses (such as medical care and lost wages) for people injured in an accident caused by another driver. So if the other driver caused your crash, you could recover up to $25,000 for your accident-related expenses under this type of insurance coverage.
$50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident. This is the maximum amount insurance companies will pay for all bodily injury expenses for all injury victims involved in the same accident. So if your bodily injury expenses add up to $25,000, that leaves $25,000 for everyone else injured in the accident.
$15,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident. Here again, the $15,000 is for all property damage-related expenses per accident. So for example, if your vehicle was totaled in a car crash and your property damage expenses add up to $20,000 or more, you will have to figure out some way to pay for all property damage expenses beyond $15,000.

What is the minimum car insurance requirement in Arizona?

Like Colorado, Arizona’s minimum car insurance requirement for all drivers falls into the 25/50/15 category. This simply means that every driver in Arizona must have the following minimum amounts of car insurance:

$25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage. This insurance pays for injury victim’s medical care, lost income and other accident expenses. Such expenses can add up fast. As a result, you could easily need more than $25,000 for your accident-related expenses.
$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage. This is the maximum amount an insurance company will pay all accident injury victims for each accident. So if there are three people with $25,000 in accident-related expenses, that would mean that only $50,000 would be covered and the additional $25,000 would not be covered by such car insurance.
$15,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage. This is money for all vehicle damage sustained in a car crash, plus any other property damage. Not surprisingly, many accidents have more than $15,000 in property damage expenses, which means that anything over $15,000 would not be covered by this type of insurance in Arizona.

Who pays for accidents caused by uninsured drivers?

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, one or several different people or companies may be responsible for paying for your accident-related expenses if you were hit by an uninsured driver. This may include:

The uninsured driver who caused your accident.
Your insurance company, depending on the type of auto insurance you have.
The bar, restaurant or liquor store that sold alcohol to the driver who caused your accident, particularly if the driver was intoxicated when they purchased alcohol, then caused your crash. In such circumstances, you may be able to pursue what’s known as a “dram shop” claim.

These are just some of the parties who may ultimately be responsible for paying for your accident-related expenses. Other options may exist, as well. Your lawyer can investigate all of them and advise you on how best to proceed.

What are my legal options if I was hit by an uninsured driver?

If you are injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver, there are several options you may be able to pursue in order to obtain the financial compensation you deserve for accident expenses. Such options often include:

File a claim with your own insurance company, especially if you have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your insurance policy. Insurance companies are required to offer such coverage to all drivers in Colorado. You must specifically request in writing that you do not want uninsured motorist coverage.
File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver seeking damages (financial compensation) for your accident-related expenses.

Other options may exist depending on the circumstances of your accident. The most important step involves establishing that the other driver was at fault in the crash. This is because many states, including Colorado and Arizona, have a fault-based insurance system. That means you can only receive financial compensation for your crash if someone else was at fault. Otherwise, your uninsured motorist coverage, for example, would not cover your accident claim.

Get an uninsured motorist accident lawyer who gets results

The stakes are high in many accidents caused by uninsured drivers. Your medical bills, vehicle repair costs, replacement income if you cannot work during your recovery and other expenses can quickly add up to thousands of dollars or significantly more. Insurance companies know this. That’s why they often do everything they can to reduce or deny claims.

That’s not right. That’s why we want to work with you. An uninsured driver accident lawyer at our Colorado Springs law firm can work with you and demand the money you deserve. We know how to negotiate effectively with insurance companies and anyone else responsible for compensating you for your crash. If they refuse to cooperate, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit or take other legal action on your behalf.

The clock is ticking after your accident. You only have three years from the date of your crash to take legal action in Colorado. That deadline is two years in Arizona. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to demand the money you deserve. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation with an uninsured motorist accident attorney you can count on in a crisis. We handle cases throughout both states.

The Longo Firm, LLC – here for you when you need us most.