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Washington ranks near the top nationally for drivers without insurance. Around 21% of drivers in Washington go without coverage.
In Tacoma, that turns even small collisions into financial risks since you would normally expect the other driver’s insurer to pay. Instead, you can end up fighting your own insurance company over bills, coverage, and recovery.
You need someone who knows Washington insurance law, and how insurers try to dodge responsibility. Freeman Law Firm deals with insurance companies and other case details so that you can focus on recovering after your accident. If you’ve been hit by a driver without insurance, call our uninsured motorist accident lawyers at (253) 383-4500 for a free consultation.
What you do in the first 72 hours after your accident can shape the evidence and the insurance file your case will depend on. Strong records at the beginning make an uninsured motorist (UM) claim in Washington far easier to prove later.
Our uninsured motorist accident attorneys organize your records, deal with the insurer, and fix gaps before they sink a UM/UIM claim. We can help if anything on your checklist is missing or disputed.
State law sets low minimums: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury. Serious injuries in Tacoma exceed those limits, which pushes claims into UM or UIM coverage.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays when the driver who caused the crash has no liability insurance. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver’s limits are too low to cover your losses.
Your policy fills the gap when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. Example from Tacoma: A Highway 512 crash leaves $200,000 in medical bills. The at-fault driver has no insurance, so your $100,000 UM limit applies and can pay up to that amount. You still face $100,000 in unpaid losses unless other coverage is available, like UM on another household policy, an umbrella policy, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, or health insurance.
Washington law requires insurers to offer UM and UIM coverage, usually up to the same limits as your liability coverage, which can protect you when someone who is uninsured or underinsured hits you. It is fairly common for drivers to reject the coverage without realizing the risk. Check your declarations page to be sure you have this coverage.
Washington uses a pure comparative fault system (RCW 4.22.005). Your compensation drops in proportion to your share of responsibility. If you are 10% at fault on a $100,000 claim, you can recover $90,000. Even at 99% fault, you still may be able to recover 1% of the damages.
Policies set short notice windows to report a crash and open a claim. For filing a personal injury case in Washington the statute of limitations is 3 years. UM and UIM disputes may follow contract time limits that run longer under Washington law, yet policies may add shorter internal deadlines. Act now so evidence, medical records, and policy notices stay clean.
Our Tacoma car accident attorneys read your policy against Washington law, then set a clear timeline for notice, proof, and filing so nothing expires. We audit UM/UIM limits, potential stacking, and any umbrella coverage, and hold the insurer to the contract and the RCWs.
A hit-and-run usually gets handled as a UM claim. The police report creates the anchor for coverage, so record the incident number. Video from traffic or business cameras along I-5, SR-167, and Highway 512 can fill gaps when the other driver disappears. Witness names, plate fragments, and any dashcam clip can help confirm impact and direction of travel.
A phantom vehicle forces a crash without making contact. Washington law requires corroboration, not just the driver’s word. A third-party witness, dashcam video, or nearby surveillance can satisfy that rule. Reporting within 72 hours preserves the claim, and a same-day written account ties your medical records to the event.
Coverage depends on the driver’s app status. If the app is off, the driver’s personal policy applies. Once the driver accepts a ride or has a passenger, the rideshare company’s commercial coverage usually takes over with higher limits and UM/UIM for the active trip. Save screenshots of the app status, trip receipts, and the driver’s info because insurance companies use those records to decide which policy applies and whether the higher limits kick in.
Neighboring states, Oregon and Idaho, carry different minimums and policy language, but Washington UM/UIM can still fill the gap when an out-of-state policy comes up short. Venue, service, and which state’s law controls the coverage question affect strategy, so documenting the plate, insurer, and policy number at the scene keeps options open.
Our attorneys move fast to secure camera footage, gather witnesses for corroboration, and file required notices on time. We verify rideshare app status, pull platform records, and sort cross-border coverage questions when the other driver is from another state.
The job of an adjuster is to try to shrink claims. They may request broad medical releases, push for a recorded statement, question causation, and offer quick checks that trade speed for a low payout. Keep any communications with insurance companies short and factual and limit releases to records tied to the crash.
Most UM and UIM policies require private arbitration for coverage and value disputes. An arbitrator reviews the records, hears from experts, and issues an award under the policy.
Issues that can’t be settled privately and require a court are referred to Pierce County Superior Court, including IFCA or bad-faith claims against the insurer, requests for discovery orders or subpoenas, and motions to confirm, vacate, or modify an arbitration award. For Tacoma crashes or local policyholders, Pierce County is the venue for those court filings.
A judgment against a driver with no coverage may not pay because collection takes time and the driver may have no reachable assets. UM/UIM claims usually provide the best path to recovery.
Washington’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act lets policyholders sue when an insurer unreasonably denies coverage or benefits. Proper notice to the insurer is required before filing. Proven violations can add multiplied damages and attorney fees. Used well, IFCA pressure moves negotiations.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP), a no-fault benefit on some auto policies, can pay medical bills and wage loss. Health insurance can cover remaining treatment. UM/UIM addresses the at-fault driver’s lack of coverage. Subrogation rights sit in the background, so track every payment source and keep copies of EOBs and invoices. Aim for a net recovery that accounts for liens, not a gross number that evaporates later.
Our attorneys control insurer contact, narrow medical releases, and prepare you before any exam or statement. We choose arbitration or court when it benefits your case, send IFCA notice when the carrier acts unreasonably, and coordinate PIP, health insurance, and UM/UIM so your net recovery is protected.
Treatment starts at the ER or urgent care, then moves to specialists, imaging, therapy, and medications. Serious injuries in Tacoma can require follow-up procedures or long rehab. Document every visit and plan for future care so the claim reflects real costs.
Missed shifts, reduced hours, or light duty hit income right away. Some jobs in Pierce County, like construction, longshore work at the Port of Tacoma, and warehouse roles, depend on full strength and range of motion. If injuries limit that, include lost earning capacity, not just days off.
Pain changes sleep, family time, and daily routines. Hobbies and community roles can pause during recovery. Explain the before-and-after in plain terms and back it with treatment notes. Specific examples carry more weight than general claims.
Serious injuries bring expenses insurers try to minimize: home or vehicle modifications, durable medical equipment, paid transportation to appointments, and long courses of medication. Keep receipts and provider letters that tie costs to the crash.
If losses exceed your UM or UIM limits, other layers may help. Stacking can apply when more than one policy in the household covers the same crash, depending on policy language. An umbrella policy can add extra protection if it includes UM/UIM. Request copies of all potentially applicable policies, then confirm in writing which limits apply and how they interact.
Our attorneys document every category of loss with treating doctors, vocational opinions, and economic analysis. We track liens, value future care and wage loss, and line up coverage layers like stacking or an umbrella to close gaps before settlement.
Attorneys take over contact with the insurer. They keep statements short and written, limit medical releases to crash-related records, and prepare you before any exam. That control stops common tactics that shrink claims, like fishing through old records or pressing for quick checks that leave out future care.
Strong UM and UIM claims rest on evidence. Lawyers line up treating doctors, independent specialists, and a life-care planner when long-term care is likely. Vocational experts explain how injuries affect specific Tacoma jobs, like construction, port work, or warehouse roles. Economists translate those limits into dollars the insurer cannot ignore.
Insurers track which firms settle light and which ones file and win. Attorneys who prepare for Pierce County arbitration or trial create real pressure. A complete demand includes records, imaging, wage proof, photographs, and a clear future-care plan. If the carrier stalls or underpays, counsel can file an IFCA notice or sue for bad faith to move the file.
Our firm has resolved uninsured and underinsured cases through settlements, arbitration awards, and court actions in Washington. We verify policy limits, gather medical and wage proof, and hold insurers to the contract through demand, arbitration, or suit in Pierce County when the carrier will not pay. Files include highway collisions near I-5 and Highway 512 and serious injuries that required extended rehab. Results show thorough documentation, timely notices, and a willingness to push when the insurer resists.
If you’ve been hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Tacoma, Freeman Law Firm opens the right UM or UIM claim, deals with your insurer, and builds proof for medical care, wage loss, and future needs. We fight low offers, push for full value through negotiation, arbitration, or court, and keep every deadline. Call (253) 383-4500 for a free consultation. There are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation.