Car wrecks are often caused by people with an insufficient amount of insurance coverage. For example, if someone was texting and driving, then ran into the back of you at high speed, your medical bills might far exceed the negligent driver's liability insurance limits. So, what can you do if the person who caused the crash does not have enough insurance to pay for your losses? South Carolina auto accident law recognizes this issue, and therefore allows you to seek money from your own underinsured motorist (UIM) policy.
Most people never think twice about underinsured coverage until they are the victim in a car accident. Nonetheless, UIM can prove critical in the event of a serious collision. To find out whether you have UIM coverage, contact your own insurance company immediately. If you or a family member has an underinsured policy on more than one vehicle, you may be able to "stack" those UIM insurance policies and maximize the amount of available insurance funds. In addition, even if your insurance company claims that you rejected UIM, they have the burden of proving a "meaningful offer" of such insurance was made.
Underinsured motorist coverage and the law surrounding it is highly nuanced in South Carolina. While this video provides an introduction to the topic, I strongly encourage you to contact my Columbia office for a free consultation at 803-790-2800 or you can contact us using the live chat feature below. If you have additional questions about any aspect of your wreck, our experienced car accident attorneys would be honored to guide you through them.