Waldorf MD Uninsured Motorist Lawyers

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Accidents in Maryland

Motor vehicle accidents can occur at any time, on any road and cause property damage, injury, and, in extreme cases, death. To protect themselves from the financial burden that results from a serious accident, motorists purchase auto insurance. If you are injured in a Maryland auto accident and another driver is at-fault, it is usually their liability insurance coverage that will pay for your losses, depending upon the coverage amount. But what happens when you are injured in an accident where the at-fault driver does not have insurance, or does not have the required coverage of insurance?

Maryland Auto Insurance Requirements

Under Maryland law, all motor vehicle operators must carry a minimum amount of vehicle liability insurance coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage (which may be waived under certain circumstances), and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to financially protect themselves and others after a traffic accident.

Liability Insurance

Vehicle liability insurance covers the policy holder in the event that they cause bodily injury or property damage as the result of negligent driving. Maryland requires a minimum liability coverage amount of 30/60/15, or $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident and $15,000 for property damage per accident.

PIP

PIP (Personal Injury Protection) is no-fault insurance coverage provided under your auto policy that can provide compensation for initial losses suffered by you or any injured passengers in your vehicle. The losses covered by PIP usually include medical expenses, short term lost wages and funeral expenses. PIP usually covers up to $2,500 per person although higher amounts can be purchased from your insurance company.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Maryland, unlike some states, requires that every driver carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to financially protect themselves in case they are injured in a traffic accident caused by a driver with no insurance or not enough insurance. The minimum uninsured motorist coverage limits are the same as those for liability insurance: 30/60/15.

Maryland Uninsured Motorist Penalties

According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), approximately one in seven U.S. drivers is uninsured. In 2009, the IRC estimated that 15 percent of all motorists in Maryland did not have any type of auto insurance coverage. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Maryland without the minimum required insurance coverage amounts. The penalties for doing so may include:

• Losing license plates and vehicle registration privileges;
• Paying a maximum restoration fee of $25 for a vehicle's registration;
• Paying uninsured penalty fees of $150 for the first 30 days of insurance lapse and $7 for each day after that;
• Being prohibited from registering any vehicle until the violations are resolved;
• Being prohibited from renewing a suspended registration until violations are resolved;
• Having license plates confiscated; and/or
• Paying a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or serving one year in prison for providing false proof of insurance.

Getting the Compensation You Deserve

All motorists are required to take responsibility for themselves and their driving. Uninsured motorists violate this duty when they do not purchase the state's minimum required car insurance coverage. Although uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage is in place to protect motorists from this exact situation, getting your insurance company to pay you the compensation you are entitled to is an obstacle in the way of your recovery.

If you have been injured in an uninsured/underinsured motorist accident, the dedicated Maryland uninsured motorist accident lawyers at Alpert Schreyer can help ensure that you receive just compensation from the insurance company and pursue damages from the uninsured, at-fault driver in civil court if necessary. Contact us today at (301) 932-9997 or (800) 489-1577 for a consultation. Our Waldorf traffic accident lawyers look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Alpert Schreyer welcomes you to download and read our free auto insurance guide, "Maryland Car Owner's Guide To Auto Insurance", to learn more about auto insurance policies, how car insurance works in Maryland, and the ideal auto insurance policy. The information in the guide is intended to assist car owners in Maryland make well informed decisions about the purchase, or change, of a car insurance policy, in addition to providing legal options when insurance solutions are needed. Stay informed and download your auto insurance guide today.