What if the person who caused the collision did not have insurance?

Car insurance in Oregon includes “uninsured motorist” (UM) coverage. If a motor vehicle collision is caused by someone who does not have insurance, your UM coverage will step in and cover your losses from your injury, including pain and suffering, just as if your company insured that person. (UM coverage applies only to claims for injuries. It does not apply to claims for damage to your car or other property.) Your claim would then be against your own insurance company.

Don’t worry about the “fairness” of making a claim against your insurance company for damage caused by someone else. With your auto insurance you pay a premium for UM coverage. Most people pay these premiums for their entire lives and never have to make a UM claim. But insurance companies know they will have to cover UM claims, and they set their premiums to cover the costs of those claims and still make a profit. It’s their business, and they are very successful at it, so you don’t need to feel intimidated if you should have to hold your company accountable for what you have been paying for all along.


Personal Injury Claims