Adams County · Uninsured and underinsured motorists
Commerce City Uninsured and underinsured motorists Lawyers
Commerce City uninsured and underinsured motorist lawyers. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
How Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims Work
McCormick & Murphy are Commerce City uninsured motorist accident lawyers for people hurt in Commerce City. We get the Commerce City Police Department report, the Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital records, and file in Adams County Justice Center.
A UM/UIM claim is filed against your own insurance company, not the other driver's, because that driver either carried no insurance or didn't carry enough to cover your losses. But don't let the term 'first-party claim' fool you into thinking it's simple. Your insurer still requires proof that the other driver caused the crash and proof of the full extent of your damages, just as if you were pursuing the at-fault driver directly.
This creates an unusual dynamic: the company you've paid premiums to for years becomes the party you must now negotiate against, and sometimes dispute, to get fair compensation. Insurers evaluate UM/UIM claims carefully, often questioning the severity of injuries or arguing that the underlying collision wasn't entirely the other driver's fault. We handle these negotiations and push back when an evaluation falls short of what the claim is worth.
UM/UIM cases also involve policy-specific issues that don't come up in ordinary liability claims: which policies apply, whether coverage was properly elected or rejected, how offsets for any amounts already paid by the at-fault driver's insurer factor in, and whether proper notice was given to your carrier. We walk Commerce City clients through each of these issues so the claim is built correctly from the start.
What We Use to Prove Fault and Damages
Because you still must prove the other driver caused the wreck, we gather the same evidence used in any fault-based crash claim: police reports from Commerce City Police Department, witness statements, photos of vehicle damage and the scene, and any available data showing how the collision happened on roads like I-76, Colorado Highway 2, U.S. Highway 85, or 104th Avenue. This evidence establishes liability even though the claim is being paid by your own insurer.
We also build the damages side of the claim with medical records, bills, and documentation of lost income, since your insurer will scrutinize the value of your injuries closely. If you were treated at Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital or another facility, those records become central to showing the carrier what the claim is truly worth. We review your policy for all applicable coverage, calculate any offsets correctly, and respond to the carrier's evaluation with the documentation needed to support a fair outcome.
- Get the police report confirming the other driver lacked insurance or had insufficient coverage
- Notify your own insurance company about the crash and the potential UM/UIM claim
- Keep all medical records and bills tied to the collision
- Document lost wages and any time missed from work
- Save photos of the crash scene and vehicle damage from the collision
Serving Commerce City and Surrounding Communities
Commerce City sees its share of serious collisions along busy corridors like I-76, Colorado Highway 2, U.S. Highway 85, and 104th Avenue, where traffic from Brighton, Thornton, Denver, Aurora, and Northglenn converges. When the at-fault driver in one of these crashes turns out to be uninsured or underinsured, injured residents are left turning to their own policies for recovery, often without fully understanding how that process works.
We represent clients throughout Adams County, including matters that proceed through the Adams County Justice Center, and we work with records from Commerce City Police Department and medical documentation from providers like Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital to build UM/UIM claims. Our office in Denver, CO serves Commerce City and the broader metro area for these first-party insurance disputes.
Damages We Pursue in UM/UIM Claims
- Medical expenses related to the crash injuries
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering from the collision
- Future medical care tied to ongoing treatment
- Property damage not otherwise covered
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Commerce City — 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.
Commerce City Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers FAQ
Do I still have to prove the other driver was at fault in a UM/UIM claim?
Yes. Even though you're filing against your own insurer, you must show the other driver caused the crash just as you would in a standard liability claim. We gather police reports, witness accounts, and scene evidence to establish that fault.
What if the at-fault driver had some insurance, but not enough?
That's an underinsured motorist, or UIM, situation. Your own policy's UIM coverage can make up the difference between what the at-fault driver's insurer pays and what your claim is actually worth, subject to any applicable offsets.
Will my own insurance company fight my UM/UIM claim?
It's common for insurers to evaluate these claims conservatively, questioning injury severity or disputing fault in the underlying collision. We respond to those evaluations with documentation supporting the full value of the claim.
What policies might apply to my UM/UIM claim?
Depending on your situation, more than one policy could potentially apply, and coverage elections made when the policy was purchased matter. We review all applicable policies to determine what coverage is available for your claim.
Do I need to notify my insurer right away after the crash?
Yes, proper notice to your carrier is an important part of preserving a UM/UIM claim. We help clients make sure notice requirements are met so the claim isn't jeopardized.
Discuss a Commerce City crash
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.