July 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) Illinois requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of automobile insurance to operate vehicles in the state. Unfortunately, some motorists choose to ignore this law, which means that drivers they injure in an accident could be left high and dry with burdensome medical costs. In anticipation of these situations, it is imperative that drivers purchase uninsured motorist insurance to cover themselves in the event of car accidents with uninsured motorists or hit-and-run accidents.
Minimum Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois
Illinois requires that all drivers have uninsured motorist coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. Drivers may also purchase additional coverage in exchange for a higher premium.
In July 2007, Illinois toughened penalties for failing to purchase auto insurance. Currently, uninsured motorists face an automatic, three-month suspension of their licenses and $100 fee to have their licenses reinstated. If motorists are caught driving with a suspended license, the suspension increases to six months. In addition to the license reinstatement fee, uninsured motorists must pay a fine between $500 and $1,000 for failing to carry the state's minimum levels of auto insurance coverage.
Other Required Coverage in Illinois
Illinois also requires all motorists to purchase a minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident and property damage coverage of $15,000 per accident.
Motorists may also wish to purchase underinsured motorist insurance. This type of policy covers the difference between a driver's uninsured motorist coverage and the liability limits of a driver who does not have enough insurance to cover the damage from an accident they caused.
Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is Important and Related Liability Issues
Uninsured motorist coverage is a vital source of funds for drivers injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or by a hit-and-run driver. This insurance may cover all or part of an injured party's medical bills.
Sometimes, however, drivers may not have enough uninsured motorist insurance to cover their serious injuries. In this case, it is possible to take court action against the at-fault, uninsured driver to recover damages. In this case, the court will give the uninsured motorist 30 days to pay for the injuries. If he or she fails to pay within that time frame, the uninsured motorist will have his or her license suspended until the damages are paid.
If you or a loved one has been injured by an uninsured driver, it is important to read your insurance policy to understand whether your injuries will be completely covered by your uninsured motorist coverage. If not, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you build a civil case against the at-fault, uninsured motorist that injured you and/or to help you navigate your insurance claims process.
Article provided by Brady & Jensen, LLP Attorneys At Law
Visit us at www.bradyjensenlaw.com
Illinois Drivers Must Carry Liability, Uninsured Motorist Coverage
An accident caused by an uninsured motorist can leave an injured party with few options. Understanding what preventative and compensatory options are available is important.
2012-07-25
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Taser Debate Increases as the Supreme Court Declines to Hear Excessive Force Cases
2012-07-25
The debate on whether Taser use by police officers constitutes excessive force is gaining more steam even after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear two cases coming from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In one case, a pregnant woman was shocked three times by Seattle police officers after she refused to sign a traffic ticket for driving 32 miles per hour in a 20 m.p.h. school zone. Another case involved a Hawaii woman who was "Tasered" while officers attempted to arrest her husband following a domestic abuse call.
Both women filed suit against ...
Understanding Summer Rental Car Insurance Options
2012-07-25
Now that summer is here, many Americans are taking vacations and consequently using rental cars at increasing rates. Navigating the convoluted world of car rental insurance can put a damper on the season's festivities. Fortunately, there are a few things consumers can learn and act upon to ensure they are protected in the event of a motor vehicle accident involving a rental car.
Rental Car Insurance Options
Car renters have a few options for rental car insurance, including coverage provided by their personal automotive policies, non-owner automotive insurance policies, ...
New Massachusetts Alimony Law Makes Divorce Less of a Gamble
2012-07-25
Until recently, the prospect of alimony in Massachusetts was filled with uncertainty for spouses in a divorce. Courts had significant latitude to order lifetime alimony, even after short marriages. Going to court to overturn alimony in a divorce could be a gamble.
Sparked in part by a Massachusetts man who spent more than $250,000 and entered bankruptcy after a judge refused to reduce his $45,000-a-year alimony payments, a task force of family law attorneys, legislators and others created a proposal for the most dramatic and fundamental changes to the state's divorce ...
Study: Connecticut Women Less Likely to Violate Cellphone Ban
2012-07-25
A recent study of Connecticut drivers has disproven the old myth that women can't stop talking on the phone. Since the law banning hand-held cellphones went into effect six years ago, men have consistently been ticketed more often than women for talking on hand-held cellphones or texting while driving.
The study, conducted by the Associated Press, found that, of the total number of drivers ticketed for distracted driving in 2006, between 52 and 54 percent were men. In 2011 alone, men received nearly 16,000 tickets while women got only 13,690; in 2010, the tally of tickets ...
Recent Crane Incidents in Texas Give Rise to Safety Questions
2012-07-25
Construction of the 420,000 square-foot Paragon Outlet Mall in Grand Prairie, Texas, is set to open late this summer - a boon for the city of Grand Prairie - but in 2011 it was the site of a fatal accident involving a crane and falling wall panels. The victim, Sean Taylor, was a master welder who once served in the U.S. Navy, and was part of the construction crew erecting the walls, when the crane caused a deadly chain reaction.
Rob Crain is representing the Taylor family in a wrongful death claim. As Chris Hawes reports for WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth, Crain said, ...
Decatur Clients Succeed from Aggressive Defense
2012-07-25
Kalamazoo based criminal defense law firm Aggressive Criminal Defense Law Firm- a division of Willis Law achieves, yet again, for another of their clients.
Initially, their client faced a marijuana possession charge in the Van Buren County. With the help of aggressive criminal defense the client's charge was dismissed.
Marijuana possession is a serious crime taken by the Aggressive Criminal Defense Law Firm. A misdemeanor for marijuana possession can prevent people from getting a job or career.
Their client, a juvenile, was in a necessary position to get the ...
Airberlin's Frequent Flyers Earn Extra Miles with Choice Hotels
2012-07-25
Choice Hotels Europe, the company behind the Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands in Europe and part of Choice Hotels International, one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world, has launched a promotion enabling members of topbonus, airberlin's worldwide frequent flyer programme, to earn double miles when they stay at participating Choice Hotels properties.
Until September 19, 2012, topbonus members who present their topbonus card when checking-in will earn double topbonus award miles with every qualifying stay at all participating Choice Hotels ...
British Airways Launches Cashback Campaign
2012-07-25
British Airways will be rewarding customers who stay in the UK to cheer on Team GB and Paralympics GB. The cashback rewards on holidays are for travel after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and in line with specific athlete wins.
British Airways will feature a new offer based on a chosen athlete, valid for a limited period and in line with their schedule in the London 2012 Games. Each offer will also have a money back incentive dependent on the performance of the athlete.
Customers can book an offer via the dedicated campaign page on ba.com and later ...
Lipsi Cosmetics Takes Cruelty-Free Approach to Product Testing
2012-07-25
Drawing from the magical colors of the Mediterranean, Lipsi Cosmetics has a goal to create not only the highest quality beauty products, but also produce them in a manner that's cruelty-free.
"We do not and will not exploit animals for testing our products, as there are many ways to test cosmetics in a humane way," said Caite Pywar, co-founder of Lipsi Cosmetics. Alternative methods include the use of cell and skin tissue cultures, corneas from eye banks, and sophisticated computer and scientific models that allow researchers to see how a human would react ...
Trafalgar Introduces 2013 Asia Brochure With More Inclusions Than Ever Before
2012-07-25
Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com), the Insider of Guided Vacations, is thrilled to announce the launch of their 2013 Asia brochure, with trips heading to China, Vietnam, Cambodia and now Japan, as well as extensions to Tibet, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Featuring some of Trafalgar's most incredible inclusions, the new brochure lets guests uncover the wonders of the Orient while experiencing Trafalgar's exclusive Insider Highlights, like Be My Guest Dining and Local Specialties.
To celebrate the launch of the new brochure, Trafalgar is offering savings of up to $1,200 off any ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
University of Cincinnati experts present research at annual hematology event
ASH 2025: Antibody therapy eradicates traces of multiple myeloma in preliminary trial
ASH 2025: AI uncovers how DNA architecture failures trigger blood cancer
ASH 2025: New study shows that patients can safely receive stem cell transplants from mismatched, unrelated donors
Protective regimen allows successful stem cell transplant even without close genetic match between donor and recipient
Continuous and fixed-duration treatments result in similar outcomes for CLL
Measurable residual disease shows strong potential as an early indicator of survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Chemotherapy and radiation are comparable as pre-transplant conditioning for patients with b-acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have no measurable residual disease
Roughly one-third of families with children being treated for leukemia struggle to pay living expenses
Quality improvement project results in increased screening and treatment for iron deficiency in pregnancy
IV iron improves survival, increases hemoglobin in hospitalized patients with iron-deficiency anemia and an acute infection
Black patients with acute myeloid leukemia are younger at diagnosis and experience poorer survival outcomes than White patients
Emergency departments fall short on delivering timely treatment for sickle cell pain
Study shows no clear evidence of harm from hydroxyurea use during pregnancy
Long-term outlook is positive for most after hematopoietic cell transplant for sickle cell disease
Study offers real-world data on commercial implementation of gene therapies for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia
Early results suggest exa-cel gene therapy works well in children
NTIDE: Disability employment holds steady after data hiatus
Social lives of viruses affect antiviral resistance
Dose of psilocybin, dash of rabies point to treatment for depression
Helping health care providers navigate social, political, and legal barriers to patient care
Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Calgary study urges “major change” to migraine treatment in Emergency Departments
Using smartphones to improve disaster search and rescue
Robust new photocatalyst paves the way for cleaner hydrogen peroxide production and greener chemical manufacturing
Ultrafast material captures toxic PFAS at record speed and capacity
Plant phenolic acids supercharge old antibiotics against multidrug resistant E. coli
UNC-Chapel Hill study shows AI can dramatically speed up digitizing natural history collections
OYE Therapeutics closes $5M convertible note round, advancing toward clinical development
Membrane ‘neighborhood’ helps transporter protein regulate cell signaling
Naval aviator turned NPS doctoral student earns national recognition for applied quantum research
[Press-News.org] Illinois Drivers Must Carry Liability, Uninsured Motorist CoverageAn accident caused by an uninsured motorist can leave an injured party with few options. Understanding what preventative and compensatory options are available is important.