The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Medical & injurieswarm-beaver-211

Uninsured driver hit me, I have UM coverage — do I even need a lawyer for my injury claim?

So about three months ago I got slammed from behind at a red light by someone who had absolutely zero insurance. Thankfully I had uninsured motorist coverage on my own policy, so my car situation got sorted out pretty quickly — they actually gave me a decent payout on it, which surprised me.

The physical stuff has been a whole other story though. Right after the crash I had this awful pain radiating through my groin and lower back. Went to urgent care, they referred me out. Ended up doing:

  • A specialist visit to rule out a serious soft tissue injury in my abdominal/groin area
  • Imaging (came back mostly okay but didn't totally explain my pain)
  • About 10 weeks of physical therapy, twice a week, then stepped down to once a week for another month or so
  • Multiple primary care follow-ups

I also burned through a ton of PTO going to all these appointments during work hours. That part honestly stings almost as much as the injury itself.

So here's where I'm at: my UM bodily injury limit isn't huge and I also have a separate med pay coverage. I'm not sure if I should file the med pay first to cover bills, then pursue the UM claim for pain and suffering — or how any of that even works together. And I genuinely don't know if an attorney is worth it at this point or if I'm overthinking it.

Has anyone navigated a UM claim for an actual injury (not just car damage)? Did you use a lawyer? Did it make a real difference in what you walked away with? I feel like I'm just fumbling around in the dark here.

11replies

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11 replies

  • 11
    cool-stoat-020

    I was in almost this exact situation two years ago — uninsured driver, rear-end hit, soft tissue stuff that took months to resolve. I tried handling my UM claim myself at first and the adjuster lowballed me so hard I almost cried. Eventually got a PI attorney involved and the final number was way better than what I would've accepted on my own. Just my experience, but I'd at least do a free consult before you sign anything.

    • 8
      curious-hare-460

      One thing that gets overlooked a lot is the PTO you burned. Lost wages and lost time are legitimate parts of a personal injury claim, not just medical bills. Keep a log of every appointment, every hour of work missed, every prescription co-pay — anything out of pocket. That documentation matters more than people realize when it comes time to calculate damages, even on a smaller claim.

  • 20
    tidy-heron-994

    Please, PLEASE do not let your own insurance company convince you they're on your side just because you're the policyholder. When it comes to a UM bodily injury claim, they flip a switch and treat you like an opposing claimant. I've seen people get strung along for months and then accept way less than they deserved because they were tired and didn't know better. Get someone in your corner.

  • 17
    patient-finch-389

    Former adjuster here. A few things that might help you think this through:

    First, yes — you can typically use your med pay coverage to pay down medical bills as they come in, and that doesn't prevent you from also making a UM bodily injury claim. They're designed to work together, even if your insurer doesn't rush to explain that.

    Second, adjusters are trained to close files efficiently. That's not malicious, it's just their job. If your treatment is still ongoing or you haven't hit what doctors call "maximum medical improvement," you really shouldn't be settling anything yet. Once you sign a release, that's it — no coming back if symptoms flare up again.

    • 2
      weary-dreamer399

      Appreciate the detailed write-up. Saving this for later.

  • 15
    bold-heron-911

    Not legal advice, but — the fact that your UM limits aren't enormous doesn't mean an attorney can't add value. A lot of PI attorneys work on contingency, meaning no upfront cost to you. The real question is whether the complexity of your claim (multiple treatment types, ongoing symptoms, lost time at work) justifies representation. Most will tell you honestly after a free consult whether it makes sense. Don't assume your claim is too small to bother.

    • 1
      hopeful-commuter881

      How long did it end up taking in your case?

  • 19
    quick-swift-194

    From a medical standpoint, groin and lower back injuries from rear impacts are actually more common than people think — the pelvis takes a lot of indirect force. The fact that imaging came back inconclusive doesn't mean you weren't genuinely hurt; soft tissue injuries often don't show on standard scans. Make sure your providers are documenting your subjective symptoms thoroughly at every visit, not just the test results. That narrative matters.

  • 18
    warm-beaver-066

    Honestly this sounds so stressful. You got hit by someone who shouldn't even have been on the road without insurance, and now YOU have to figure out how to navigate your own policy just to get made whole? That's so backwards. I hope you find someone who can just take this off your plate. You've already been through enough.

  • 12
    calm-wren-348

    Here's the short version: don't settle until you're done treating and know what your total bills actually are. Don't give a recorded statement without understanding what you're agreeing to. And do at least one free consult with a PI lawyer before you make any decisions. That's really it. Everything else is details.

    • 6
      steady-commuter206

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.