Arizona has the fifth-highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the nation, at 22 percent — which means that nearly one out of four drivers in Arizona is driving without insurance coverage. Many individuals have special policies that help protect them from damages incurred by getting into an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. However, insurance companies don’t always pay up. An experienced personal injury attorney in Tucson can help.

Uninsured driver facts

Uninsured and underinsured drivers fit certain demographics:

• 62% are male
• 22% are aged 18–24
• 48% are renters
• 32% have an income less than $20k/year
• 45% have a high-school level education

What do uninsured motorist policies cover?

Uninsured motorist policies are supposed to cover you in cases in which the motorist at fault has no auto insurance or has less than the state minimum, as well as hit and run accidents. However, some vehicles are explicitly excluded from being considered uninsured vehicles. These include vehicles that are:

• Owned by you
• Owned by a self-insurer
• Owned by the government
• Operated on rails or crawler treads
• Designed for off-road use
• Being used as a residence

Why wouldn’t my insurance company pay me if I got hit?

Like any business, insurance companies make money when they collect, not when they pay out. Your insurance company may try to limit the amount it will pay or deny your claim altogether for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. When this happens, you have a choice to accept the payout or go to arbitration, where third parties will attempt to resolve the dispute and come to an agreement. Either party may demand a trial up to 60 days after the arbitrators’ decision.

If you’ve been hit by an uninsured or underinsured individual in Tucson, you need an uninsured motorist attorney who understands how insurance companies work and can help you recover your claim. Don’t let the insurance companies give you the runaround when you’ve been hurt in an accident. Call the Rockafellow Law Firm today to discuss your case.