El Paso County · Uninsured and underinsured motorists
Colorado Springs Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers
Hit by an uninsured driver in Colorado Springs? Your own policy may protect you; we pursue full UM/UIM coverage.
How UM and UIM Claims Work in El Paso County
An uninsured motorist claim arises when the at-fault driver carries no liability insurance. An underinsured motorist claim applies when that driver's coverage is too low to cover your losses. Either way, you file a first-party claim with your own insurer, not the other driver's. Colorado law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage; you may have accepted or rejected it, or your policy may contain default limits. Our role is to gather evidence of the other driver's fault, quantify your damages, and negotiate or litigate against your carrier to reach a fair settlement.
The burden of proof rests on you. We must establish that the uninsured or underinsured driver caused the collision and calculate the full extent of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Your insurer will scrutinize police reports, witness statements, medical records, and damage assessments. We handle that investigation and push back on denials or low offers.
What Evidence Matters in an Uninsured Motorist Case
Police reports filed with the Colorado Springs Police Department or Colorado State Patrol are the foundation. We obtain the crash report, citations issued, officer observations, and any dashcam or surveillance footage from the scene. Witness statements, vehicle damage photos, and accident reconstruction reports also help prove liability. Medical records from UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central or CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital establish injury causation and treatment necessity.
We also gather your policy documents, declarations pages, and any communications with your insurer. Wage loss documentation, receipts, repair estimates, and photographs of your vehicle and injuries all support the damage claim. If the uninsured driver was cited for a traffic violation—speeding, running a red light, reckless driving—that citation strengthens your case significantly.
Do not move or repair your vehicle until we photograph and document it. Obtain a copy of the police report from Colorado Springs Police Department or Colorado State Patrol within days of the crash.
- Your UM/UIM policy and endorsements
- Coverage letters and claim-file correspondence
- Recorded statements and submissions
- Medical and wage-loss documentation
- Insurer delay or denial explanations
- Complete timeline from first notice of claim
Save all receipts for medications, travel to appointments, and other crash-related expenses.
Uninsured Motorist Crashes on Colorado Springs Roads
Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, Woodmen Road, and I-25 see high-volume traffic. Collisions here often involve drivers without valid insurance. We have handled UM/UIM claims arising from crashes in Briargate, Old Colorado City, Broadmoor, Fountain, and Manitou Springs. Rear-end collisions, intersection T-bones, and highway merge accidents are common. Colorado Springs Police Department and Colorado State Patrol respond to most serious crashes; we obtain those reports and coordinate investigation.
El Paso County District Court has jurisdiction over disputed UM/UIM claims that do not settle. Your insurer has a duty of good faith to investigate and respond to your claim. If they deny coverage or offer too little, we file suit to enforce your policy rights and recover what you are owed.
Official Colorado Springs hospital, report, crash-record, and court links →
Losses the claim may include
- Medical expenses: emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, imaging, therapy, future treatment
- Lost wages: time off work during recovery, reduced earning capacity if injury is permanent
- Pain and suffering: physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage: vehicle repair or replacement, rental car costs while yours is fixed
- Household and personal care: help with childcare, cleaning, yard work during recovery
- Disfigurement and disability: scarring, permanent impairment, mobility aids, home modifications
What clients say about McCormick & Murphy
Real outcomes and reviews. Check Google reviews for the office that serves Colorado Springs — and read client testimonials.
A passenger suffered traumatic brain, neck, and back injuries in a Colorado Springs intersection collision. After the carrier refused a fair number, a jury awarded $295,000 including interest and costs.
El Paso County jury verdict
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, coverage, venue, and evidence.
Colorado Springs Uninsured and underinsured motorists FAQ
Do I have uninsured motorist coverage?
Colorado requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, but you may decline it. Check your declarations page or call your agent. If you accepted coverage, it usually equals your liability limit unless you chose a lower amount. We review your policy to confirm the coverage type and limits available.
How much does it cost to hire you?
We work on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay us anything upfront or out of pocket. Our fee comes as a percentage of the recovery we win for you—either by settlement or court judgment. Costs for investigation, medical records, and expert witnesses are typically advanced by us and deducted from the recovery at the end. If we recover nothing, you owe no fee.
What is the deadline to file a UM/UIM claim?
Colorado allows three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, your insurance policy may require you to notify your insurer and file a claim within a shorter window—often three years. Do not delay. We send notice to your insurer immediately and begin the claims process right away.
Can my insurer deny my uninsured motorist claim?
Yes, but only for valid reasons: lack of proof of the other driver's liability, failure to comply with policy conditions, or exclusions listed in your policy. Insurers sometimes wrongly deny claims. If denial is unjustified, we file suit to overturn it. We have tools to compel the insurer to reconsider or pay a judgment.
What if the uninsured driver is never found?
You may still have a claim under an uninsured motorist provision called a hit-and-run claim. You must report the accident to police immediately and provide all identifying information about the other vehicle. We help document that you exercised reasonable efforts to identify the driver. If the claim is denied, we challenge that denial in court.
Discuss your Colorado Springs accident
Free consultation. No attorney fee unless we recover for you.