Personal Injury

Chicago Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers

Being hit by an uninsured driver can leave you dealing with the same injuries, missed work, and medical bills as any other serious crash, but with an added problem: the at-fault driver may have little or no insurance available to pay the claim. In many Illinois cases, the real dispute shifts from the negligent driver to your own uninsured motorist coverage.

Randolph & Holloway LLC represents injured people in Chicago and across Illinois in uninsured motorist and hit-and-run accident claims. These cases often involve policy language, notice issues, arbitration provisions, coverage disputes, and disagreements over the value of the injuries. A valid UM claim should be treated seriously from the start.

If you were injured by an uninsured driver or in a hit-and-run crash, our Chicago uninsured motorist accident lawyers can evaluate the claim, the available coverage, and the evidence needed to move the case forward.

What uninsured motorist coverage does in Illinois

Illinois requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage in auto policies issued for covered vehicles in the state. In general terms, UM bodily injury coverage is designed to protect insured people who are legally entitled to recover damages from uninsured drivers and hit-and-run drivers because of bodily injury or death.

That matters because a crash caused by an uninsured driver does not eliminate the injury claim. It changes where recovery may come from. Instead of pursuing only the other driver’s liability coverage, the injured person may need to proceed under UM coverage through their own policy or another policy that applies.

Illinois’ Department of Insurance explains that UM bodily injury coverage applies to bodily injury caused by an at-fault uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver, and it notes minimum Illinois UM limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Some policies may provide higher available limits depending on the policy and whether additional coverage was rejected.

Common uninsured motorist claim situations

Hit-and-run collisions

A driver leaves the scene and is never identified, or cannot be identified in time. These claims often turn on prompt reporting, witness evidence, vehicle damage, police documentation, and consistency in the history of how the collision occurred.

At-fault driver has no insurance

The other driver is known, but there is no applicable liability coverage. In that situation, a UM claim may become the main path for recovering for bodily injuries, wage loss, treatment, and pain-related damages.

Coverage disputes with your own insurer

Even where the crash itself seems clear, disputes can arise over notice, who qualifies as an insured, the amount of available limits, the seriousness of the injuries, causation, and whether the value of the case supports a larger award.

Property damage questions

Illinois DOI also describes optional uninsured motorist property damage coverage for vehicle damage caused by an identified uninsured driver, and notes that Illinois law requires insurers to offer that coverage with a maximum $250 deductible. That is separate from bodily injury issues and should be evaluated under the specific policy.

Why uninsured motorist cases can be more complicated than they look

Many people assume their own insurance company will simply step in and pay fairly when the at-fault driver is uninsured. That is not always how the claim unfolds. UM cases can become technical quickly because the dispute often involves both liability and contract issues at the same time.

Whether the policy applies
Whether notice was timely and proper
Whether there is enough proof of a hit-and-run event
Whether the accident caused the claimed injuries
How much the injuries are actually worth
Whether arbitration is required under the policy or statute

Illinois’ UM statute also requires policies to provide that disputes regarding coverage and the amount of damages be submitted to arbitration, subject to the policy and statutory framework. That means these claims often require attention to both evidence development and procedure.

Damages that may be available in a UM injury claim

Emergency treatment and hospital care
Orthopedic, neurological, or specialist care
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Past and future lost income
Pain and suffering
Loss of normal life
Disfigurement where supported
Permanent impairment or future care where supported by the evidence

Related personal injury pages

Official resources

Frequently asked questions

What is an uninsured motorist claim?

It is a claim under applicable uninsured motorist coverage when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or when a hit-and-run driver causes bodily injury and is not identified.

Does Illinois require uninsured motorist coverage?

Illinois requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage in qualifying auto policies issued for covered vehicles in the state. Policy limits and additional coverage questions depend on the specific policy and elections made.

Can I make a claim if the driver fled the scene?

Often yes, but hit-and-run claims usually require careful attention to reporting, documentation, and evidence showing how the collision happened.

Why is my own insurer disputing the claim?

Because UM claims often involve disputed issues such as notice, coverage, medical causation, and value. The insurer may challenge both fault and damages even though the claim proceeds under your own policy.

Do uninsured motorist claims go to arbitration?

Many Illinois UM claims do involve arbitration under the policy and statutory framework, though the exact process depends on the policy and the issues in dispute.

Speak with Randolph & Holloway LLC

If you were injured by an uninsured driver or in a hit-and-run crash, Randolph & Holloway LLC can evaluate your claim, the available insurance issues, and the next steps.

Call Randolph & Holloway LLC to discuss your uninsured motorist accident case.