Chicago Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Lawyer
We represent drivers and passengers dealing with uninsured drivers, underinsured drivers, hit-and-run crashes, disputed coverage, delayed claims, arbitration pressure, and insurance companies that refuse to value the case fairly.
Hit-and-run and low-policy-limit crashes
No fee unless we win
Free consultation
Get Help With the Problem You Have Right Now
These are the UM/UIM issues that most often decide whether a case gets paid fairly.
- The other driver had no insurance
- The other driver did not have enough insurance
- The crash was a hit and run
- I need to understand policy limits
- I want to know what my case is worth
- I need to know what to do next
Cook County
Illinois
Why injured people in Chicago choose McHargue & Jones for UM and UIM claims
UM and UIM claims often surprise people because the fight may be with their own insurance company, not the driver who caused the crash. That does not make the claim easier. You still have to prove how the crash happened, prove your injuries, document your treatment, identify all available coverage, and show what the case is actually worth.
We fight denied and undervalued UM/UIM claims
Insurance companies may delay, underpay, deny coverage, or argue the case is worth less than it is. The fact that the claim is under your own policy does not mean they will treat it fairly.
We focus on what matters financially
Medical bills, lost income, future treatment, pain and suffering, and available policy limits are what matter when the at-fault driver cannot fully pay for the damage they caused.
Clear answers on coverage and value
This page is built to connect you to the strongest UM/UIM support pages on uninsured claims, underinsured claims, policy limits, hit-and-run crashes, case value, and next steps after a crash.
How do uninsured and underinsured motorist claims work in Illinois?
An uninsured motorist claim may apply when the driver who caused the crash had no insurance or fled the scene and cannot be identified. An underinsured motorist claim may apply when the at-fault driver had insurance, but their policy limits are too low to fully cover the damage they caused. In both situations, the claim often shifts to your own policy — and that is where coverage, notice, proof, and value disputes begin.
Coverage and policy limits
Related claim situations
Why UM and UIM claims can become difficult
Many people assume a claim under their own insurance policy should be simple. It often is not. Your own insurer may still dispute liability, question treatment, minimize injuries, argue over coverage, or push the case toward arbitration. That is why these cases still require proof, strategy, and pressure when the insurer refuses to pay fairly.
Common UM/UIM claim problems
- The insurer says the crash does not qualify for coverage
- The insurer undervalues the injuries
- There are arguments over policy limits or notice requirements
- The claim is delayed without a clear reason
- The insurer pushes arbitration before the case is fully developed
Helpful next reads
What to do after a UM or UIM crash in Chicago
If you suspect the other driver had no insurance, too little coverage, or fled the scene, the early steps after the crash become especially important. Reporting the crash correctly, preserving the police report, documenting treatment, and protecting coverage under your own policy can all affect the outcome.
Critical early steps
- Call 911 and make sure a report is made
- Get medical treatment quickly
- Document the vehicles, the scene, and all injuries
- Preserve the police report and witness information
- Do not assume your own insurer will automatically pay fairly
- Find out what coverage may apply before giving broad statements
When should you talk to a lawyer about a UM or UIM claim?
You should strongly consider legal help if the other driver had no insurance, had too little insurance, fled the scene, your own insurer is delaying or underpaying, the injuries are significant, or there are questions about coverage and policy limits. These cases often look simple from the outside but become technical and contested quickly.
Good questions to ask early
Talk to McHargue & Jones today
If you were hit by an uninsured driver, an underinsured driver, or a hit-and-run driver, we can review your situation, explain what coverage may apply, and help you understand what a fair recovery may look like.
Chicago UM/UIM FAQ
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver had no insurance or cannot be identified, such as in some hit-and-run crashes. Underinsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver had insurance, but not enough to fully cover the damages.
Read: Uninsured motorist claims
Read: Underinsured motorist claims
Yes, in many Illinois cases you may still have a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage. But you still have to prove the crash, prove the injuries, and document what the case is worth.
That may create an underinsured motorist claim. In those cases, the amount of the at-fault driver’s coverage, your own policy language, and the total value of the injuries can all affect recovery.
Yes, many hit-and-run crashes are handled as uninsured motorist claims because the driver cannot be identified and no liability coverage can be collected from them.
Not every case requires a lawyer, but many UM/UIM claims become complicated quickly because they involve coverage disputes, policy-limit questions, arbitration pressure, and insurers who still fight value even when the claim is under your own policy.
Talk to a Chicago uninsured and underinsured motorist lawyer about your case
McHargue & Jones offers free consultations for Chicago UM and UIM claims. We will review your situation, explain what coverage may apply, and help you understand what a fair recovery may look like.