Jefferson and Adams counties · Uninsured and underinsured motorists
Arvada Uninsured and underinsured motorists Lawyers
Arvada uninsured and underinsured motorist lawyers. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims in Arvada
McCormick & Murphy are Arvada uninsured motorist accident lawyers for people hurt in Arvada. We get the Arvada Police Department report, the Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge records, and file in Jefferson County Courts in Golden or Adams County Justice Center.
A UM/UIM claim is different from a typical car crash claim. Instead of filing against the at-fault driver's insurer, you make a claim against your own auto policy because the other driver either carries no insurance at all or doesn't carry enough to cover what you lost. That makes it a first-party claim, but don't mistake that for simple. Your own insurer still requires you to prove the other driver caused the crash and still requires you to prove the full value of your injuries and losses.
In practice, this means your insurance company stands in the shoes of the at-fault driver during the claim process. They will scrutinize liability just as a third-party insurer would, and they will push back on the value of your medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. We've seen Arvada clients surprised that their own carrier, the company they've paid premiums to, fights just as hard to minimize a payout as a stranger's insurer would.
We handle the full scope of these claims: identifying every policy that might apply, including stacked coverage or umbrella policies, reviewing your coverage elections and any offsets the carrier tries to apply, and making sure required notice to your insurer is handled correctly. We also build out the medical and wage-loss proof your carrier will need to pay what the claim is actually worth.
What We Gather for Your UM/UIM Claim
Because you still must prove the other driver's fault, we start with the same evidence used in any fault-based crash: the Arvada Police Department report, scene photos, witness statements, and any available video from businesses or traffic cameras along roads like Wadsworth Boulevard, Ralston Road, Indiana Street, or near I-70. We also work to confirm the other driver had no insurance or insufficient limits, which may involve documentation from the DMV or insurance verification systems.
On the damages side, we gather treatment records, often from providers connected to Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, along with wage documentation, and any expert input needed to project future medical needs. All of this goes into the claim file we present to your own insurer, because a UM/UIM adjuster will not take your word for the value of the case. They want documentation, and the strength of that documentation drives the strength of your offer.
- Report the crash to Arvada Police and get a copy of the report
- Notify your own insurance company that the other driver was uninsured or underinsured
- Keep every medical record and bill tied to the crash
- Save pay stubs or employer records showing missed work
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with us
Handling UM/UIM Claims Around Arvada
Arvada sits across Jefferson and Adams counties, and we handle UM/UIM claims tied to crashes throughout this area, including along I-70, Wadsworth Boulevard, Ralston Road, and Indiana Street. These claims can also arise from crashes in neighboring Wheat Ridge, Westminster, Golden, Lakewood, or Denver, since the UM/UIM policy follows you, not just the location of the wreck.
If a lawsuit becomes necessary against the at-fault driver, or if we need to involve the courts to resolve a dispute with your own insurer, that typically proceeds through Jefferson County Courts in Golden or the Adams County Justice Center, depending on where the underlying crash occurred. We work from our Denver office and handle these matters for clients throughout the Arvada area.
Damages We Pursue in UM/UIM Claims
- Medical treatment costs, past and projected future care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering from the underlying collision
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to recovery
- Property damage not otherwise covered
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Arvada — and read client testimonials.
After I was hit by a drunk driver with no insurance, my own insurer refused UM benefits. McCormick & Murphy sued for uninsured motorist benefits and bad faith. A jury awarded me over $900,000.
C. O., Denver · UM / bad-faith verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Arvada Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers FAQ
Why do I have to prove fault if I'm making a claim against my own insurance?
UM/UIM coverage pays you what the at-fault driver would have owed if they had enough insurance. Because of that, your own insurer still requires proof the other driver caused the crash, just as a liability insurer would. The claim is first-party in terms of who you're filing against, but the proof requirements mirror a standard fault-based claim.
What if the other driver has some insurance, just not enough?
That's an underinsured motorist, or UIM, situation. You would typically pursue the at-fault driver's available liability coverage first, then turn to your own UIM coverage to cover the remaining gap between what their policy pays and what your damages are actually worth.
Does my insurance rate go up if I file a UM/UIM claim?
This depends on your policy and insurer, and it's a fair question to raise directly with your agent or carrier. We focus on building the strongest possible claim for your losses, but questions about premium impact are best answered by your insurance company.
What if I'm not sure whether the other driver had insurance?
We help verify coverage status as part of building your claim. If it turns out the driver did have applicable insurance, we can pursue that claim instead of, or alongside, a UM/UIM claim with your carrier.
Can I still make a UM/UIM claim if the crash happened outside Arvada?
Yes. Your UM/UIM coverage applies based on your policy, not the location of the crash. We've handled claims tied to crashes in Wheat Ridge, Westminster, Golden, Lakewood, and Denver for Arvada-area clients.
Discuss a Arvada crash
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.