29 articles
Stacking, phantom-vehicle claims, bad-faith UM/UIM denials, and arbitration — the under-discussed coverage that often becomes the only path to recovery.
Hit by an Uninsured Driver?
UM/UIM Attorney →Last Updated: April 22, 2026 If an uninsured driver hits you in Illinois, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your…
When an Illinois insurance company refuses to pay a valid uninsured motorist claim, the policyholder can fight back under 215 ILCS 5/155,…
Illinois requires drivers to carry only $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage under 625 ILCS 5/7-317—one of the lowest minimums…
**Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays your damages when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.** Illinois law allows UM/UIM claims in wrongful death cases…
**Rideshare accident UM/UIM claims cover you when the driver lacks adequate liability insurance.** Uber and Lyft provide contingent coverage, but you can…
**UIM offset calculations reduce your recovery by the amount the at-fault driver’s insurance already paid.** Illinois applies the ‘true offset’ method, meaning…
**Pedestrian and bicycle accident victims can claim UM/UIM coverage through their own auto insurance policy.** Illinois law doesn’t require you to carry…
**Motorcycle accident victims can use their own UM/UIM coverage if the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.** Illinois allows motorcycle riders to…
**UM/UIM claims in Illinois compensate you when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance coverage.** Your own auto insurance policy provides this protection…
If your own insurance company wrongfully denies or delays your UM/UIM claim, you can pursue a bad faith lawsuit and recover not…
UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist) coverage pays your medical bills and damages when the at-fault driver is uninsured or lacks sufficient coverage; medical payment…
A phantom vehicle is an unidentified car involved in causing your accident (hit-and-run or indirect collision); Illinois allows phantom vehicle claims under…
If you own multiple vehicles with UM/UIM coverage, you can usually stack the limits to increase available coverage—for example, $100,000 per vehicle…
Passengers can claim UM/UIM coverage from the vehicle they were riding in, and may also have access to coverage from their own…
Bad faith occurs when an insurance company denies a valid UM/UIM claim without proper investigation or for reasons not supported by the…
UM/UIM arbitration is a binding process where a neutral arbitrator decides how much the insurer must pay if you and the company…
If a truck hits you and the truck driver is uninsured or underinsured, your UM/UIM coverage pays for your damages up to…
Illinois minimum auto insurance ($25,000/$50,000/$20,000) is the legal floor but falls far short of covering serious injuries—medical bills alone can exceed these…
You can file a UM claim for a hit-and-run accident if you report it to police and your insurance company promptly; your…
Stacking UM/UIM coverage combines the limits from multiple vehicles you own into a larger pool—for example, two $50,000 policies become $100,000 available.…
Report the accident to your insurance company immediately with details of the uninsured driver; provide all evidence of the accident and the…
Insurance companies fight medical bills by arguing charges are excessive, duplicative, or unnecessary; a medical bill audit reduces inflated charges, negotiates with…
UM/UIM arbitration in Illinois is mandatory arbitration to resolve disputes over uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage amounts when the driver’s liability is clear but…
Hit-and-run claims in Peoria are covered by your uninsured motorist (UM) policy if you cannot identify the at-fault driver. Report the accident…
You can stack UM/UIM coverage in Illinois if you own multiple vehicles—each vehicle’s policy limit is available for coverage. Some situations allow…
**Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage pays your damages when the at-fault driver lacks sufficient liability insurance.** You can use this coverage from your…
**Medical bills in UM claims are paid from your UM/UIM policy and your health insurance.** Subrogation may apply, requiring your health insurer…
**When both spouses are injured in an uninsured motorist accident, each can claim UM benefits.** Illinois law allows separate UM claims per…
Insurance companies often make initial settlement offers far below actual claim value; accident victims are entitled to compensation beyond what insurers voluntarily…