HIT BY AN UNINSURED DRIVER? YOUR POLICY MAY PAY
Virginia law requires every auto policy to include uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage (Va. Code § 38.2-2206). That means if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance, by one whose limits are too low to cover your injuries, or by a hit-and-run driver who’s never found, your own policy may step in to pay. Most people don’t realize they have this protection until they need it — and by then, the claim is against their own insurance company.
That’s where it gets complicated. A UM/UIM claim puts you and your insurer on opposite sides, and the same company that took your premiums now has a reason to minimize your payout. We handle these claims the way we’d handle a claim against any other insurer: documenting your injuries, valuing them honestly, and pushing back when the offer doesn’t match the harm. You paid for this coverage — we make sure it actually works when it counts.
UNINSURED MOTORIST CLAIMS: WHAT TO KNOW
What does uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage do?
It steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little to cover your injuries, or can’t be identified. Virginia requires this coverage on every auto policy (Va. Code § 38.2-2206), so you likely already have it.
Does it cover hit-and-run crashes?
Often yes. If the driver who hit you fled and is never identified, your UM coverage may treat it like an uninsured-driver claim — though prompt reporting and specific proof requirements apply.
I’d be claiming against my own insurer — will that work against me?
It can. Once you file a UM/UIM claim, your insurer has a financial reason to minimize the payout, and the relationship turns adversarial. We handle it the way we’d handle a claim against any other insurance company.
Are there deadlines or notice rules I need to worry about?
Yes. UM/UIM claims carry notice requirements and deadlines that differ from an ordinary claim, and missing them can cost you coverage — so it’s worth getting advice early.
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CONTACT DECKER’S UNINSURED MOTORIST ATTORNEYS
If an uninsured or hit-and-run driver left you injured, don’t assume you’re out of options — your own coverage may be the answer, and there are deadlines and notice rules that matter. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.