Cordisco & Saile has had a great relationship with Laborers Local Union 57 in Philadelphia. We are the longtime approved partner for legal matters by Local 57’s leadership and we strive to be your resource for important legal news and representation should you ever need it
As Laborers, you are on the road a lot. Everyone, including members of the Philadelphia Laborers Local Union 57, strives as much as possible to drive safely and avoid traffic accidents. However, despite your best efforts, there are times when you find yourself in the midst of a minor or major auto accident due to the other driver’s fault.
There is nothing as bad as suffering injuries and unplanned expenses due to an accident caused by another driver’s negligence. You could just easily end up with hefty car repair and medical bills and time away from your job because of someone else’s careless driving.
The situation can even be worse if the driver responsible for the accident happens to be uninsured or underinsured. You may think that every driver you meet on the road carries proper insurance cover but things are sometimes quite different on the ground.
In fact, statistics show that the number of uninsured drivers on the road has been increasing gradually since the 2008 economic downturn. Despite the current state of an improved economy, there are still more uninsured and underinsured drivers than in the pre-2008 period.
Fortunately, Philadelphia laborers can now protect themselves from such unlikely but possible scenarios with the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM).
UM Insurance Cover
This is an insurance cover that assists you after you are involved in an accident caused by somebody who doesn’t have any form of liability insurance coverage.
The cover is designed to protect you from financial losses and seek compensation for your injuries when the driver responsible for the accident either doesn’t have an auto insurance policy or is underinsured.
There are several types of uninsured motorist insurance covers in Philadelphia but the three most common types include:
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) Cover
Also known simply as Uninsured Motorist Insurance, this type of cover will pay all your medical bills when the other driver liable for the accident is uninsured. The coverage also covers your lost wages and even applies to victims of hit and run accidents.
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Cover (UMPD)
This type of insurance covers damages caused to and property including your house, fence, gate, and much more by an uninsured driver and to your vehicle.
- Underinsured Motorist Protection (UIM)
This type of coverage comes into play when the driver at-fault does actually carry liability insurance but unfortunately, the policy’s limit is not sufficient enough to cover the full costs of your injuries and the damage to your car. The cover helps to compensate for the shortfall caused by the underinsured driver’s limited policy.
Can Tort Insurance Help?
If you are one of the Philadelphia laborers who own a car or truck, you must be aware of the laws that define your responsibility if you are the one at fault in an auto accident. All states in the US fall into two categories namely at-fault and no-fault state. In a no-fault state, you carry less financial responsibility than in an at-fault state.
In the tort system, the driver found to be at-fault carries full liability for the accident and is required to pay for the victim’s damages including medical bills, lost wages, property damages, injuries, and even the pain and suffering the victim suffers as a result of the accident. If you are not at fault, you will still be fully compensated under the tort system.
Limited and Full Tort Insurance
Under the tort system, you can either get a full tort or limited tort car insurance cover. With a full tort cover, you have the option to sue the driver at-fault for full compensation without limit for any injuries and damages that resulted from the accident.
You can seek full compensation for all costs incurred including medical bills, vehicle damages, property damage, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you suffered after the accident.
With limited tort insurance, you can only sue for limited compensation if you have suffered injuries in an accident that you were not responsible for. You will not sue for any other additional damage besides personal injuries and property damages. To get the best protection, you’ll need to have full tort coverage.
Cordisco & Saile and How We Get the Compensation You Deserve
Cordisco & Saile is a longtime supporter of the Philadelphia Laborers Local 57 Union and we strive to keep your members well informed about important legal issues that you may face. More importantly, we fight to get the best possible compensation for you or a loved one after an auto accident. We fully understand the complexities and intricacies involved in the process of suing the driver at-fault.
We will help you piece your case together to ensure that you get maximum compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. If you are a member of the Philadelphia Laborers Local Union 57 in need of legal assistance in an auto accident case, feel free to contact us today for a free consultation.
