Uninsured Motorists & Med Pay

Wisconsin Uninsured Motorists Laws and Med Pay Insurance

Managing the aftermath of a car accident is difficult enough if everyone involved has adequate car insurance to pay for car damage, medical bills and lost wages. Car accidents involving uninsured motorists are much more complex — whether you are hit by an uninsured motorist or you yourself are in a car accident while driving uninsured.

A related car insurance problem that frequently arises after car accidents involves the Med Pay coverage that Wisconsin state law requires drivers to carry. Car accident survivors who misunderstand the steps to take to collect benefits under their Med Pay coverage may find themselves pursued unnecessarily by collection agencies.

Changes in Wisconsin Insurance Law: Wisconsin Auto Insurence Law has changed twice between 2010 and 2011. Please contact our firm to find out the protection you have.

Hammett Bellin & Oswald LLC, located near Appleton in Neenah, has an active personal injury law practice in which our attorneys regularly represent the victims of car accidents. We have extensive experience providing legal advice and counsel in car accident cases involving uninsured motorists and Med Pay claims. Schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers if you have questions about uninsured motorists insurance (UIM) or your Med Pay coverage.

Car accidents involving uninsured motorists

Wisconsin's car insurance law requires every driver to have auto insurance, either their own, or on the vehicle they are driving.

• If an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes a car accident, report the accident to the Wisconsin State Department of Transportation (DOT) along with other important post-accident steps. The DOT will demand payment or bond from the driver; you may only be able to access uninsured motorist coverage in the other driver has no insurance and refuses to pay.
• If you cause a car accident as an uninsured or underinsured motorist, do not ignore the DOT's letter demanding payment for the accident costs. If you do not make payment, or post a bond, your driver's license will be suspended. If you cannot pay, contact our office for information about your legal options. Our lawyers may be able to negotiate a payment plan on your behalf or — in extreme cases — counsel you on the option of filing a bankruptcy petition.

Understanding the Med Pay coverage in your car insurance policy

Medical Payment coverage — also called Med Pay or no-fault insurance — pays hospital bills or funeral costs if a covered driver is injured or killed in a car accident while in an insured vehicle.

Car accident survivors who carry both medical insurance and Med Pay car insurance coverage are often shocked to receive bills or collection letters from hospitals or ambulance companies after car accidents. Before your health insurance will pay for costs associated with the accident, you often must first exhaust your Med Pay coverage. To protect your credit rating, you should first submit your claim to your car insurance company. If your medical bills are more than your med pay coverage, submit further claims to your health insurance company.

Schedule a free consultation to get help with car insurance claims after a car accident

The process of submitting car insurance and health insurance claims after a car accident is complex, and one false step can result in serious negative consequences for your credit rating and license to drive, among other things.

After an accident, consider scheduling a free consultation with a lawyer at Hammett Bellin & Oswald LLC. We will help you understand the claims process, monitor the progress of your claims, and facilitate communication between your car insurance company, the other driver's insurance company, and your health insurance company. Our goals are to protect your credit rating and help you get full and complete compensation for the costs associated with the accident.

To make an appointment, call 920-720-0000. We serve clients throughout the Fox River Valley and Northeastern Wisconsin.