After an accident with an uninsured driver in Spokane, the path to recovery may seem unclear and confusing. Allow an experienced Spokane uninsured motorist accident lawyer to help you navigate Washington’s insurance laws to secure compensation.
With decades of combined experience, Siegfried & Jensen is prepared to fight for you. Let a Spokane car accident lawyer from our team help you with your uninsured motorist case.
What a Spokane Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney Can Do for You
Being struck by an uninsured driver can leave you unsure of how to recover your losses. Fortunately, Washington law provides multiple avenues for victims, and Spokane courts are familiar with handling these claims.
An experienced uninsured motorist accident attorney in Spokane, WA, can guide you through this process.
Insurance Claim Navigation and Settlement Negotiation
An attorney will review your insurance policies (auto, health, etc.) to identify all sources of coverage, including UM/UIM, personal injury protection (PIP), collision coverage for property damage, and even umbrella policies.
They will help you file a strong claim with your insurer and handle communications to prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you. Often, insurance companies will negotiate more reasonably when they see you have legal representation and a strong case has been built.
Your Spokane personal injury lawyer can engage in settlement discussions or mediation with your insurer (or the uninsured defendant, if you sued them) to reach a fair payout.
Arbitration and Litigation Representation
Many uninsured/underinsured driver claims in Washington are resolved through arbitration rather than a full court trial. Additionally, most insurance policies have UIM arbitration clauses, where the insurer and insured agree to arbitrate any dispute about the amount of damages or coverage.
Courts in Washington, including Spokane courts, will enforce these arbitration agreements. If you arbitrate your UM claim, an impartial arbitrator (or panel of three arbitrators) will hear evidence of your injuries, determine fault, and award damages. That award can then be confirmed in court as a judgment if the insurer does not pay voluntarily.
Challenging Denials and Bad Faith
Occasionally, an insurance company might dispute or delay your uninsured motorist claim. Remember that under the unreasonable denial of a claim for coverage or payment of benefits law, insurers owe a duty of good faith to their policyholders. You have additional legal recourse if your UIM claim is unreasonably denied or handled in bad faith.
Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) explicitly allows an insured to sue their insurer if a first-party claim (like a UM claim) is unreasonably denied and to recover actual damages, attorney’s fees, and even up to triple damages in court.
For a free legal consultation with an uninsured motorist accident lawyer serving Spokane, call (801) 266-0999
Understanding What Makes a Motorist Uninsured or Underinsured
Washington’s underinsured motorist law treats both truly uninsured drivers and underinsured drivers under the same framework (often collectively referred to as UIM coverage). A vehicle is underinsured when no liability insurance policy applies or the available liability limits are less than the damages the injured person is entitled to recover.
All Washington drivers are required by law to carry liability auto insurance. According to Washington State Law, drivers must carry minimum coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage. Despite this requirement, a significant number of drivers remain uninsured.
Washington law even covers hit-and-run accidents through UIM, including so-called “phantom vehicles” that cause an accident without actual physical contact (for instance, a car that forces you off the road and flees). However, to claim UIM for a phantom vehicle, the law requires that you report the accident to law enforcement within 72 hours.
Spokane Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
Recoverable Damages in Spokane UM/UIM Claims
Victims of uninsured motorist accidents in Spokane can recover various types of damages. An uninsured motorist accident lawyer in Spokane, WA, can assist you in your recovery. Your attorney will calculate the costs of your losses, including:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
At Siegfried & Jensen, we can answer questions like whether you can still pursue a car accident claim even if you were partially at fault. We can then determine how that may affect your subjective losses in your lawsuit. Your lawyer will then craft an argument designed to help you get maximum compensation.
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The Right Uninsured Motorist Representation For You
Partnering with an experienced and skilled attorney can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Our team at Siegfried & Jensen guarantees exceptional service—someone is available 24 hours a day to evaluate your case.
Once we accept your case, your uninsured motorist accident lawyer in Spokane will handle everything from paperwork, filing, and evidence collection to negotiations and legal procedures, allowing you to concentrate fully on your recovery.
Our priority is obtaining justice and the highest possible compensation for our clients’ losses—we are prepared to dedicate that commitment to your case.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
