Jefferson County · Uninsured and underinsured motorists
Golden Uninsured and underinsured motorists Lawyers
Golden uninsured and underinsured motorist lawyers. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you.
How a Golden Uninsured Motorist Claim Works
McCormick & Murphy are Golden uninsured motorist accident lawyers for people hurt in Golden. We get the Golden Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office report, the CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood records, and file in Jefferson County Courts.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, often called UM/UIM, is coverage you carry on your own auto policy. You turn to it when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, or when that driver's liability limits are too low to cover your losses. Even though you are making a claim against your own insurer rather than the other driver's, this is not an automatic payout.
Your own insurance company still requires proof that the other driver caused the crash and proof of what your injuries and losses are actually worth. In effect, you are proving a case against an absent or underinsured driver while negotiating with your own carrier, who has its own financial interest in paying less. That dual role is what makes UM/UIM claims more complicated than they first appear.
We handle the fault investigation, the damages presentation, and the back-and-forth with the insurance company so our clients in Golden are not navigating that process alone. We work to build a record that supports full value for the claim, not just whatever the initial offer happens to be.
What We Look At in a UM/UIM Case
Because fault still has to be proven, we start with the same evidence used in any collision case: how the crash happened, who caused it, and whether anything about the scene, the vehicles, or witness accounts supports that account. We also look closely at every applicable insurance policy, including stacking or coverage elections that may affect how much is available, and any notice requirements tied to the policy itself.
On the damages side, we gather medical records and bills, documentation of wage loss, and any other proof of how the crash has affected our client's life. We also review the insurance carrier's own evaluation of the claim, including any offsets it applies, so we can respond to their position with specific facts rather than letting an initial number stand unchallenged.
- Any insurance information the other driver provided, even if incomplete
- Photos of the crash scene, vehicle damage, and the roadway
- Contact information for witnesses
- All medical records, bills, and wage-loss documentation
- A copy of your own auto insurance policy, including UM/UIM details
Handling UM/UIM Claims From Golden Crashes
Golden sees crash patterns tied to its mix of highway and local roads, including I-70, Washington Avenue, Colorado Highway 93, and West Colfax Avenue. When the Golden Police Department or Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responds to a crash on these roads, their report becomes part of the record we review when the at-fault driver turns out to be uninsured or underinsured. We also look at injury treatment connected to facilities like CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood as part of documenting the claim.
We work with clients throughout Golden and nearby communities including Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Morrison, and Denver. If a UM/UIM claim moves into litigation, it is typically filed in Jefferson County Courts. We understand how local roads, local responders, and local medical providers factor into building these claims.
Losses We Pursue in UM/UIM Claims
- Medical expenses from the crash
- Future medical care tied to the injury
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Other out-of-pocket losses caused by the collision
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Golden — 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.
Golden Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers FAQ
Why do I need to prove fault if I'm making a claim with my own insurance company?
UM/UIM coverage only pays when the other driver is legally at fault and lacks enough insurance to cover your losses. Your own insurer requires proof of that fault before paying the claim, much like a claim against the other driver's insurer would. This is why these claims often involve the same investigation work as a standard crash case.
What if the other driver had some insurance, just not enough?
That is an underinsured motorist, or UIM, situation rather than a pure uninsured motorist case. Your policy's UIM coverage can apply to make up the difference between what the at-fault driver's policy pays and the actual value of your damages. The same proof requirements for fault and damages still apply.
Will my own insurance company fight my UM/UIM claim?
Insurance companies evaluate UM/UIM claims with their own financial interest in mind, even though you are a policyholder. That means they may dispute fault, question the extent of your injuries, or apply offsets that reduce the payout. Having documentation and a clear presentation of your damages helps respond to that evaluation.
Does it matter how many vehicles or policies are involved?
Yes. Depending on your policy and household situation, there may be multiple applicable policies or stacking options that affect how much coverage is available. We review all applicable policies as part of evaluating a UM/UIM claim.
What should I do first if the other driver has no insurance?
Preserve whatever information you have about the crash and the other driver, seek medical treatment, and review your own auto policy for UM/UIM coverage. Contacting us for a free consultation lets us start reviewing fault, coverage, and documentation early in the process.
Discuss a Golden crash
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.