Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Claims Attorney In St. Louis

When you are hit by a driver who has no insurance or flees the scene of the crash, managing your injuries is difficult enough. But when your medical bills quickly exceed the at-fault driver’s minimal coverage, you may have to rely on your own insurance policy. Unfortunately, your own carrier may use loopholes to minimize payouts and protect its bottom line.

The Summary Law Firm‘s lawyer in St. Louis steps in to tilt the scales back in your favor. I, attorney Justin Summary, have over 20 years of legal experience, aggressively cutting through restrictive exclusions. As an uninsured motorist lawyer, I reject the high-volume settlement mill model to focus exclusively on providing sophisticated representation to clients in Missouri and Illinois.

How “Stacking” Of Insurance Policies Works In Missouri

When bills exceed an at-fault driver’s coverage, you may have the option to “stack” your policies. This method lets you combine the insurance limits of multiple household vehicles or separate policies to create a much larger pool of compensation. Unlocking this extra coverage depends on whether the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured and the fine print of your policy.

For example, if an uninsured driver causes a collision, you have the right to stack policies. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage acts as a personal shield that follows you, not just your car. Even if you are injured as a passenger in a friend’s vehicle, you may combine the UM limits of every car in your household. Any clause the insurer uses to block this is void.

Unlike UM coverage, though, the state doesn’t require insurers to allow underinsured motorist (UIM) stacking. This means combining policies is permitted unless your policy has an explicit, valid and unambiguous provision preventing you from doing so.

Filing An Uninsured Motorist Claim Against Your Own Insurer

Filing an uninsured motorist claim does not violate your policy or hurt your standing with your insurance company. You paid premiums for this exact safety net, and you have the right to use it.

In fact, state law prohibits your insurer from raising your rates or penalizing you for a crash you didn’t cause. Your carrier simply steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver to cover your medical bills and other injuries, up to your policy limits.

Common Questions About Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Claims In Missouri

Addressing insurance disputes comes with a lot of questions from clients. If you are facing this issue, here’s what you need to know.

Am I legally allowed to stack uninsured motorist coverages across multiple household vehicles?

Yes. Missouri public policy protects your right to combine these limits for all insured household vehicles.

What is the statute of limitations for filing a first-party uninsured motorist claim?

You generally have five years from the day you sustained the injury to file a lawsuit.

Can I recover underinsured motorist benefits if my policy contains an anti-stacking clause?

This specific provision only prevents you from combining policies. However, if the text is ambiguous and there are conflicting clauses, there may be a chance to bypass the restriction.

Let Attorney Summary Assert Your Rights As A Policyholder

When your own insurance company refuses to honor the protection you paid for, call me today for help. I will provide the focused, aggressive representation needed to hold carriers accountable in Missouri or Illinois. Call my St. Louis law office today at 314-673-1475 or schedule a free consultation through this online form.