In Missouri, uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory, which means that your auto insurance policy must include coverage for uninsured motorists. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you may be able to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company to cover the damages or take the at-fault driver to court.
5 Steps for Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim in Missouri:
- Notify your insurance company: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to inform them about the accident and the fact that the other driver was uninsured.
- Collect evidence: Gather as much evidence as possible from the scene of the accident, including photos of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries sustained, witness statements, and the police report.
- Seek medical attention: If you or any passengers in your vehicle were injured in the accident, seek medical attention immediately.
- Contact a personal injury attorney: Insurance companies are cheap and we sue them regularly when they refuse to pay a fair amount, which is nearly always.
- Serve a summons: After we file your lawsuit your uninsured motorist insurer will need to be served a summons.
- Negotiate a settlement: Your attorney will be in contact with the insurance company to negotiate a settlement for the damages you incurred as a result of the accident.
Who Do You Serve
So how do you know who to serve? Insurance is a highly regulated industry in Missouri, so in order for insurance companies to do business they must be registered with The Missouri Secretary of State. The Department of Insurance is overseen by the Secretary of State, and the government acts as a gatekeeper for the sale of insurance. This means that insurance companies must allow the director of insurance to accept service on their behalf.
This is to protect Missouri citizens from out-of-state insurance companies.
For example: If a Missouri citizen is injured and a foreign insurance company extends coverage to that injury, all the Missouri citizen has to do is serve the Missouri Secretary of State Department of Insurance as opposed to tracking down the out-of-state insurance company to make a claim.
What To Do When The Other Party is An Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist
Conclusion
Filing an uninsured motorist claim can be a complex process, so it is important to work with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the process and ensure that your rights are protected.
We hope that the above post and the below video will answer any questions about how to file an uninsured motorist claim. If not please contact Cantor Injury Law today.