What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Arizona law requires insurance companies to offer this coverage when you buy a policy, but you can reject it in writing. Many drivers decline it without understanding what they are giving up.

• Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage: Pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no active insurance policy or flees the scene.
• Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage: Fills the financial gap when the at-fault driver has insurance but their policy limits are too low to cover your full medical costs.
• Stacking: Some Arizona policies allow you to combine coverage limits across multiple vehicles on your policy, which can significantly increase the funds available to you.

I review your declarations page for free to confirm exactly what protection you have before we take any next steps.

Will Your Own Insurance Company Fight Your UM/UIM Claim?

This surprises many people. On an uninsured motorist claim, your own insurance company becomes the opposing party. They assign an adjuster whose job is to pay you as little as possible, just like any liability carrier would.

Before representing injury victims, I served as General Counsel for a nationally recognized insurance corporation. I spent years inside the industry learning exactly how insurers evaluate claims and limit payouts. I now use that knowledge to protect Mesa families from those same tactics.

What I see consistently in Mesa UM/UIM claims is that insurance companies exploit the informational advantage they hold over their own policyholders. When an adjuster calls within days of your crash with a recorded statement request, they are not trying to understand what happened, they are building a file they can use to dispute your injuries or argue the crash was partially your fault. 

Under Arizona’s pure comparative fault rules, even a small fault percentage assigned to you directly reduces your settlement, and your own insurer benefits financially from finding that fault. I take over all communication with the adjuster from the moment you hire me, which removes that leverage entirely.

What Compensation Can You Recover Through a UM/UIM Claim?

Uninsured Motorist coverage pays for your bodily injuries. Vehicle repairs are handled separately through your collision coverage or the at-fault driver’s property damage policy if they are identified.

Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses:

• Emergency room visits, surgery, and ongoing medical treatment
• Physical therapy and specialist care
• Lost wages from missed work
• Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term

Non-economic damages cover personal losses that do not come with a receipt:

• Physical pain and ongoing discomfort
• Emotional distress and disrupted sleep
• Loss of enjoyment in daily activities
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement

I calculate every category of loss so the insurance company cannot shortchange you on damages you are legally entitled to recover.

What Steps Should You Take After an Uninsured Driver Hits You?

The steps you take in the hours after a crash directly affect the strength of your claim. Moving quickly protects both your health and your legal rights.

Call 911 and Get a Police Report Number

Always call the police, even if the crash seems minor. Most insurance policies require an official police report to process an uninsured motorist claim, and this requirement is especially strict in hit-and-run cases.

Get Medical Care the Same Day

Go to the emergency room or urgent care immediately, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries, and a gap between the crash and your first medical visit gives the insurance adjuster reason to argue your injuries were not caused by the accident.

Preserve Photos, Video, and Witness Information

Photograph your injuries, vehicle damage, and the crash scene before anything is moved. I also look for dash cam footage, nearby business surveillance video, and rideshare data that can prove exactly what happened.

Call Us Before You Talk to Any Insurer

Do not give a recorded statement to your insurance company before speaking with me. Even your own insurer will use your words to minimize your payout on a UM claim. I handle all communication with the insurance companies so you do not have to.

What Deadlines and Policy Traps Can Hurt Your Claim?

In Arizona, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, your insurance policy contains its own deadlines that are often far shorter and buried in the fine print.

I review your policy immediately so we never miss a deadline that could cost you your right to compensation.

Can You Still Recover if You Were Partly at Fault?

Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means you can recover compensation even if you share some of the blame for the crash. Your final payout is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you are not barred from recovery entirely.

For example, if you are found 20% at fault on a $100,000, you recover $80,000. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your share of fault to reduce what they owe you. I push back against that tactic with evidence, not just arguments.

What If UM/UIM Coverage Is Not Enough?

Sometimes your medical bills exceed your available policy limits. When that happens, I investigate every other possible source of recovery for you.

Additional sources of compensation may include:

• An employer, if the at-fault driver was working at the time of the crash
• A bar or restaurant that overserved a drunk driver under Arizona’s dram shop laws.
• A government entity responsible for a dangerous road condition that contributed to the crash

I give you an honest assessment of whether these options are worth pursuing based on the specific facts of your case.

In my experience handling UM/UIM claims in Maricopa County, the stacking issue comes up in a meaningful percentage of cases where clients have multiple vehicles on the same policy. Arizona allows policy stacking when the policy does not clearly exclude it, and many Mesa drivers have never been told this option exists. 

A client with three vehicles on a single policy and $100,000 per-vehicle UM limits may have $300,000 in available UM coverage rather than $100,000. I review every client’s declarations page in the first week specifically because this analysis can change the entire value of the available recovery.

How Thomas Grier Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Helps You

When you hire Thomas Grier Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, you work directly with me from the first call to the final resolution. You will not be handed off to a paralegal or a case manager.

Here is what I do from day one:

• Policy audit: I review your declarations page and identify coverage traps before they cost you money.
• Evidence preservation: I move immediately to secure 911 audio, surveillance footage, and witness statements before they are lost.
• Insurer communication: I take over all contact with the insurance company so adjusters cannot pressure you into a damaging statement.
• Medical coordination: I connect you with providers who treat accident victims on a lien basis, meaning you receive care now and they are paid from your settlement.
• Trial preparation: I prepare every UM/UIM claim as if it is headed to arbitration or court, which consistently produces stronger settlement offers.

“Thomas Grier is an amazing accident attorney! He was referred to me by my chiropractor and has represented me in two vehicle accidents now. 

I HIGHLY recommend him! He and his team handled both of my cases professionally, efficiently and with straightforward communication. Having him represent and advocate for me, gave me peace of mind during the chaos that comes after a car accident. He and his team handled everything, which allowed me to focus on recovering. 

I appreciate everything they did for me! While I hope there isn’t a third incident, Thomas Grier is who I’ll call if there is.” – Jennifer Smithson

No Fee Unless We Win

I handle every uninsured motorist case on a contingency fee basis. You pay no hourly fees and take on no financial risk to hire me.

• No upfront costs: You pay nothing to start your case.
• Costs advanced: I cover filing fees, expert reports, and investigation expenses.
• No win, no fee: If I do not recover money for you, you owe me nothing.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

Hospital bills are piling up, you may be missing work, and the insurance company is already working against you. The sooner you call, the sooner I can preserve evidence and stop the clock on your policy’s notice deadlines.

I am available for hospital visits, home meetings, and evening or weekend appointments. Take the first step toward holding the insurance company accountable. Call or contact Thomas Grier Injury & Car Accident Lawyers online to schedule your free consultation today.

“My 9 year old son and I had our first car accident at no fault of mine, my mom referred me to Thomas and I had a great experience. Thomas and his team really helped me during a tough time, they were always in communication with me and answered any questions I had along the way with an immediate response. 

Thomas and his team took care of everything for me and for my son. He made a tough time less stressful for me and for that I am extremely thankful!” – Vanessa Nelson

Mesa Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer FAQs

Does Arizona Require Drivers to Carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Arizona requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, but drivers can reject it in writing. Many people do not realize they waived this protection until after a crash leaves them with no way to recover their medical costs.

Can My Passengers File a UM/UIM Claim Under My Policy?

Your Uninsured Motorist coverage typically extends to passengers riding in your vehicle at the time of the crash. It can also cover household family members injured by an uninsured driver, even if they were in a different car.

Does UM/UIM Coverage Pay for My Car Repairs or a Rental?

Uninsured Motorist coverage applies to bodily injury, not property damage. Vehicle repairs and rental costs are handled through your collision coverage or the at-fault driver’s property damage policy if they are identified.

What Is UM/UIM Arbitration and Do I Have to Participate?

Arbitration is a private legal process where a neutral third party decides your claim instead of a jury. Many Arizona policies require it for UM/UIM disputes, and I prepare every case with that process in mind so you are never caught off guard.

Will Filing a UM/UIM Claim Raise My Insurance Premiums?

Arizona law generally prevents your insurer from raising your rates when you file a UM/UIM claim for a crash that was not your fault. I recommend confirming this with your specific policy language before filing.

Can I Switch Attorneys if I Am Already Working with Another Firm?

You have the absolute right to change attorneys at any point in your case. I handle the entire transition, including coordinating with your prior attorney on fees, so the switch does not slow down your claim.