WHAT IS UNDERINSURED AND UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE?

Inadequate insurance coverage is one of the biggest issues we face when representing a cyclist injured in a bicycle crash at Lucarelli & Castaldi, LLP.  In the State of New York, the current minimum automobile insurance limits for negligence resulting in bodily injury is $25,000. This number is even lower in the State of New Jersey.  

         Cyclists can unfortunately sustain very serious injuries if they’re involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Relying solely on the insurance coverage of the motor vehicle involved in a bicycle crash to adequately compensate the injured cyclist often results in a woefully inadequate recovery. Here are the auto accident lawyers that you need to talk to in case of an accident. The injury lawyer costs in Tampa help you deal with them legally and get the deserving compensations.

         Fortunately, if you own an automobile, or if you live with a relative who owns an automobile, you can  protect yourself from this situation by purchasing underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage on your automobile insurance policy.  You can also protect yourself with this insurance coverage on a non-owner insurance policy.  Very simply put, underinsurance and uninsurance coverage provides bodily injury coverage for any injuries you sustain if the insurance coverage of the vehicle which caused the accident either has no coverage or has insufficient coverage limits to adequately cover your damages.  Here is a typical example of how this coverage works: Say you’re involved in a bicycle crash in New York with a motor vehicle that has a minimum bodily injury coverage policy of $25,000. You can find lawyers for wrongful death cases who can provide legal advice when it comes to injury cases as well. Unfortunately, your injuries are serious and after consultation with the attorneys at Lucarelli & Castaldi, LLP you are advised that your case has a value significantly higher than this limit.  Fortunately, you have an auto policy (or a non-owner policy) that has $250,000 of underinsurance and uninsurance coverage. (If you reside with a relative such as a mother, father, spouse, child, sibling, etc. and they own an automobile that has underinsurance and uninsurance coverage; that policy will cover you as well.)    By having this added underinsurance and uninsurance coverage you effectively increase the amount of insurance coverage available to compensate you for your injury, from the New York State minimum of 25,000 all the way up to $250,000.  Uninsurance is similar, except it applies when the offending vehicle has no insurance.  For example, the operator of the offending vehicle let their insurance coverage lapse or fled the scene of the crash and can’t be identified. Here are the personal injury attorneys located in Highland that can help with accident and injury cases.

         Unfortunately, most cyclists are unaware of underinsurance and uninsurance coverage benefits when purchasing their insurance coverage.  The coverage is extremely inexpensive compared to other coverages on the policy and is probably the most important part of your coverage provisions because it protects YOU.   Always be sure to check with your insurance company or broker to confirm that you purchased this option. 

         At Lucarelli & Castaldi, LLP we strive to protect all cyclists from the dangers of riding on crowded city streets; providing advocacy, education, and aggressive representation for bicycle crash victims.  Contact Lucarelli & Castaldi, LLP at 718-556-1800 or info@lucarelliandcastaldi.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for answers to all your bicycle crash questions from bicycle crash attorneys Thomas Lucarelli and Philip Castaldi. *Attorney Advertising