Hit by drunk driver with no insurance

[sheri1557]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

My son was hit head-on by a drunk driver and had to be life-flighted to a Trauma unit and undergo surgery to insert a rod and screws into his Femur bone. We came to find out that this guy didn't have any car insurance at all. My son carried uninsured motorist coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person/$30,000 per incident. My question is, with a lawyers help, will we be able to recover any compensation for his injury's and the financial burden this has placed on not only him but his family?

He was due to graduate college in August and had a job lined up to begin soon after. Those plans are on hold indefinately and he will lose 70% of his tuition money for this semester also.

We are looking into suing the other driver, but if he has nothing, I guess we get nothing? What are the chances of getting a settlement from my son's insurance company?

 

[CALIF-LAWPRO62]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

My son was hit head-on by a drunk driver and had to be life-flighted to a Trauma unit and undergo surgery to insert a rod and screws into his Femur bone. We came to find out that this guy didn't have any car insurance at all. My son carried uninsured motorist coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person/$30,000 per incident. My question is, with a lawyers help, will we be able to recover any compensation for his injury's and the financial burden this has placed on not only him but his family?

He was due to graduate college in August and had a job lined up to begin soon after. Those plans are on hold indefinately and he will lose 70% of his tuition money for this semester also.

We are looking into suing the other driver, but if he has nothing, I guess we get nothing? What are the chances of getting a settlement from my son's insurance company?

My response:

You don't need an attorney for this, particular, claim because the medical specials are so high. All you need to do is show your son's insurance adjuster that there was a collision report, and that the other driver, it's owner, and the vehicle were uninsured. Once that's done, you should easily be able to obtain the $15,000.00 (which, by the way, won't be enough money. But, that's all he had.)

IAAL

 

[moburkes]

My response:

You don't need an attorney for this, particular, claim because the medical specials are so high. All you need to do is show your son's insurance adjuster that there was a collision report, and that the other driver, it's owner, and the vehicle were uninsured. Once that's done, you should easily be able to obtain the $15,000.00 (which, by the way, won't be enough money. But, that's all he had.)

IAAL

Yep. What he said. Unfortunately, this is a hard lesson. If your son had higher liability limits, he could have chosen higher UM coverage. I'm guessing that he also didn't have enough first party medical to qualify for extraordinary medical coverage.

 

[shortbus]

Given the low policy limit I would avoid involving a lawyer initially. The best he can do is $15K minus his contingency fee of probably $5K, leaving you about $10K. Whereas if you show the ins co your costs, which are likely far in excess of $15K, they'll probably settle with you directly for the whole amount.