If you were injured in a Colorado car accident that wasn’t your fault, you might assume the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover all your losses. Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. As an experienced Colorado car accident lawyer at The Wilhite Law Firm can explain, seriously injured victims have another important avenue: filing a claim under their own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Here’s why this strategy matters.
1. Colorado’s Minimum Auto Liability Coverage Often Falls Short
In Colorado, drivers are required to carry only $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident. That may sound sufficient — until you factor in hospital stays, surgeries, lost wages, ongoing rehabilitation, and future impairment. If the other driver’s policy is minimal (or they have little or no insurance), your full losses won’t be covered. That’s when your UM/UIM policy becomes vital. The attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm will help you explore this option.
2. Filing a UM Claim Doesn’t Hurt Your Rates
Many injury victims hesitate to use their own insurance because they worry about higher premiums. But under Colorado law, filing a UM/UIM claim after an accident you didn’t cause cannot legally result in a rate increase for you. You’ve already paid for that protection — it’s there to protect you when the other driver’s insurance isn’t enough.
3. You Already Paid for This Coverage — Use It
When you purchased UM/UIM coverage, you bought a safety net: protection when someone else causes the crash and their insurance falls short. It’s not about suing yourself — it’s about tapping into your policy to ensure you are fully compensated for your injuries, lost income, and pain & suffering. The attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm will explain how that coverage works and how to make it work for you.
4. A Skilled Injury Attorney at The Wilhite Law Firm Can Navigate the Complexities
Even though it’s your own insurance policy, once you initiate a UM claim, the dynamic changes — your insurer may still act in its own interest. That’s why you need an experienced Colorado personal injury attorney.
At The Wilhite Law Firm, your lawyer will:
- Collect the medical evidence, bills, records, lost-wage documentation, and expert opinions to build the full value of your claim.
- Communicate and negotiate with your insurer, ensuring your rights are protected.
- Coordinate the UM claim alongside your claim against the at-fault driver, so one does not undermine the other.
- Prevent you from signing any release, agreement or document that limits your future recovery without your understanding.
5. Filing a UM/UIM Claim Can Speed Up Your Recovery Process
If the at-fault driver’s insurer is disputing liability, has low limits, or their coverage is delayed, waiting on that alone could leave you financially vulnerable. Filing a UM claim opens another lane for compensation — allowing you to focus on recovery rather than financial stress, and letting your attorney move faster to secure what you need.
Bottom Line: Use Every Available Source to Protect Your Recovery
If you’ve been seriously injured in a Colorado car accident caused by someone else, filing a UM/UIM claim through your own policy isn’t double-dipping — it’s smart, strategic, and exactly what you paid for. With the right attorney — like those at The Wilhite Law Firm — you can ensure no stone is left unturned in seeking full compensation.
Why Choose The Wilhite Law Firm?
- Proven experience handling serious car accident and personal injury cases throughout Colorado since 1977.
- A focus on results: the firm handles cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no fee unless you win.
- 24/7 availability, serving clients across Colorado—including Denver, Colorado Springs, Greeley, and beyond.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a Colorado car accident?
Don’t assume the other driver’s insurance will cover everything. Call The Wilhite Law Firm to discuss your right to file a UM/UIM claim and ensure you’re exploring every avenue of compensation.
Free consultation—no obligation.
