Is It Ever A Good Idea To Accept A Settlement Offer Without Consulting With An Attorney?

personal injury lawyer Memphis, TNPersonal injury cases can range from various situations, like dog bites, to automobile crashes, slips and falls, and more. Regardless of the situation or injury itself, there’s always some level of negligence or even malicious intent from the other party. This other party can be an individual, a company, or even a governmental entity. 

One reason why victims turn to an attorney’s help is that they’re not receiving a settlement from the other party’s insurance company. However, sometimes a person can receive a settlement offer relatively quickly after filing their personal injury claim, but should they accept it or speak with an attorney first?

When You May Not Need An Attorney’s Assistance 

Again, personal injuries can range in size and scope, and anything from a mildly sprained ankle after falling on a retail store’s wet floor to a construction accident that keeps you immobile for months may constitute a personal injury. 

In both scenarios, you’re entitled to compensation from the other party, but a mildly sprained ankle may only call for a couple of days of rest or potentially a trip to the ER, while the other injury can call for months of rest alongside surgery, missing work, emotional distress, the inability to walk the same way again, etc. 

In other words, whether or not you should pursue legal assistance usually comes down to the extent of your injuries and whether or not the legal process is worth it. 

Be Aware of the First Settlement 

The other party’s insurance company’s willingness to communicate can also play a role in whether or not you should speak with an attorney. However, you should be cautious about accepting the first settlement offer, especially if you don’t have any legal counsel. Insurance companies know that most civilians don’t know how much they’re entitled to in a personal injury case. 

Besides medical expenses, a settlement can cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, travel expenses, and more. Even if a person understands this, they probably won’t have an exact figure in mind. A settlement number can sound attractive at first, but there’s the chance that it won’t cover as much as it should. 

What to Do If You Do Receive a Call? 

The insurance agent on the other end will likely start out sounding very friendly, and you have no reason to not be polite yourself. However, you also shouldn’t get chatty and talk to the agent for an extended period of time. Insurance agents can employ tactics like pressuring you into accepting a settlement or playing word tricks that force you to admit guilt or change your initial account. Even answering “I’m doing fine” to an innocuous question like, “How are you doing today?” can be used by an insurance adjuster to try to adjust your settlement or throw out your case altogether. Be polite, but firmly make it clear that you don’t feel comfortable discussing any details without your attorney present. 

 

A Memphis personal injury lawyer can help make a huge difference, something our friends at Patterson Bray PLLC agree with. 

 

A Guide To Alimony After A Divorce

Spousal Support Attorney

While divorces can be devastating, they can also bring new beginnings and opportunities.
But what fresh start can a person have when they are financially dependent on their former spouse? Instead of getting a new lease on life, they are consumed with figuring out how to provide for themselves… which is often easier said than done.

As explained by an alimony lawyer from Vasquez de Lara Law Group, this is where alimony payments come into play

Read this guide to answer the question, “How long after a divorce can you ask for alimony?”

What Is Alimony?
Alimony—or spousal support—is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to the other following a divorce. The purpose of alimony is to ensure both parties are financially stable after the marriage ends.
Typically, alimony occurs when one spouse depends on the other spouse financially. The spouse who earns significantly more might be required to pay alimony to support the other spouse. Alimony aims to create fairness for the dependent spouse once the marriage is officially dissolved.

For example, a judge may award alimony to a spouse who doesn’t work because they have been a stay-at-home parent. Since this parent doesn’t have an income, they wouldn’t be financially secure following the divorce. The spouse who makes more would make alimony payments to help the stay-at-home parent get back on their feet.

All divorce cases are different, but the spouse who earns more money usually makes alimony payments to the other spouse.
Many factors affect alimony payments, such as each spouse’s assets, earning capacity, and length of the marriage
If you’re going through a divorce and you were a dependent spouse, a divorce lawyer can help you fight for alimony payments so you can support yourself.

Types of Alimony
There are five common types of alimony in most states.

Temporary Alimony
As the name implies, temporary alimony is intended for the short term. Typically, temporary alimony payments are made during the divorce process. Payments end once the divorce is finalized.

Durational Alimony
Durational alimony can be ordered in both short- and long-term marriages. This type of alimony is only for a set period, and it cannot go past the length of the marriage. So, if you were married for three years, you would only receive durational alimony payments for up to three years.

Bridge-the-gap Alimony
Bridge-the-gap alimony is awarded to dependent spouses who may struggle to adjust to their new life after the divorce. This alimony is short-term, as its purpose is to help the dependent spouse transition to being single.

Rehabilitative Alimony
Rehabilitative alimony is similar to bridge-the-gap alimony. It’s short-term and intended to rehabilitate the receiving spouse. For example, the dependent spouse may receive rehabilitative alimony while in school to finish a college degree or vocational degree.
Permanent Alimony

As you can guess from the name, permanent alimony is indefinite. Permanent alimony is usually only awarded for long-term marriages, and payments continue until the dependent spouse remarries or the spouse making payments passes away.

This type of alimony is less common than it used to be and usually occurs in very long term marriages with a significant disparity in income between the spouses. For instance, permanent alimony may be awarded if the dependent spouse was a homemaker or part time employee throughout the marriage.

Can I Ask For Alimony After My Divorce is Finalized?
Generally speaking, you can NOT ask for alimony after your divorce is finalized. You must request alimony during the divorce process. Additionally, if the courts don’t award alimony, then you can’t come back to petition for alimony after the divorce is finalized.
Since you can’t ask for alimony after a divorce in most states, it’s important that you work with an experienced divorce lawyer during the divorce proceedings. They will help you request alimony and ensure you get the payments you need.
How Long Do I Get Alimony Payments After My Divorce?

The length of your alimony period depends on many aspects. The type of alimony you receive is a major deciding factor.
For example, suppose you get durational alimony. In that case, the alimony award will only last the set amount of time that the courts decided on. Permanent alimony, on the other hand, means you’ll receive payments until death or remarriage.
Another factor that determines how long you get alimony payments is the length of your marriage. For example, the State of Florida defines a short-term marriage as lasting less than seven years. A moderate marriage lasts between seven and fewer than 17 years. Finally, a marriage that lasts 17 years or longer is considered a long-term marriage.

Shorter marriages usually qualify for smaller periods of alimony, such as bridge-the-gap or rehabilitative alimony. Durational alimony may be awarded for moderate or long-term marriages. Meanwhile, permanent alimony is normally reserved for long-term marriages.

Going through a divorce can be challenging. It can be especially difficult if you’re fighting for alimony payments. An experienced alimony attorney can help you get the support you deserve. Contact an alimony attorney today to see how they can help you.

Situations To Call An Elder Law Lawyer 

Family Law Lawyer

When you have an elderly loved one that you are caring for and need assistance regarding a legal issue that impacts them, you may want to consider seeking help from a reputable lawyer that you can trust to assist you. An experienced lawyer who practices elder law is familiar with many areas that concern the senior population, such as health insurance coverage, nursing home selection, retirement, and estate planning. When you are choosing how to best help your loved one, it is important that you get the right legal help. Here are some situations where calling an estate planning lawyer or family law lawyer is highly recommended. 

Establishing or modifying an estate plan

When you are trying to figure out how to best set up an estate plan that your loved one needs, you can receive legal help from a trusted elder law lawyer like one from Carpenter & Lewis PLLC. Their knowledge of many elder law topics like estate planning can enable your loved one to create a plan that fits their goals. Whether your elderly loved one is new to estate planning or they need help making certain changes to their existing plan, a lawyer will be able to offer their guidance. 

Nursing home assistance 

Choosing a nursing home or conducting an investigation into an abuse or neglect accusation requires a lot of work. A qualified and experienced lawyer that has worked on many kinds of cases involving nursing homes has the knowledge and skills to help you and get the results that you are seeking. There are many steps involved in cases concerning nursing homes. You may need to talk to many people such as staff members, medical professionals, and other individuals to gather the information that you need. 

Medicaid guidance 

Navigating the complex and expansive Medicaid system can be difficult for a senior citizen who might know little about the requirements. It is a federal system that provides health insurance benefits to low-income individuals. If your loved one has an issue with Medicard, such as if they are receiving reduced benefits or their application was denied, they can reach out to a skilled lawyer who knows how the Medicaid system works. 

Planning for retirement 

Managing finances and planning for retirement can be a long process that encompasses many different task.s a reputable and trusted lawyer will be able to offer personalized legal counsel regarding retirement planning. There are many approaches to retirement plans, so a lawyer will be able to help your elderly loved one figure out how to best plan for their future and reduce expenses. 

When you are seeking legal counsel for an elderly loved one right away, do not wait to talk to a lawyer. Elder law covers many different legal areas, so a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer will be able to provide the information that you are seeking. A seasoned lawyer has a number of legal services that they are able to offer you. For more information about what an experienced lawyer who practices elder law is able to do for your senior loved one, request a consultation right away. 

Uber Accident Cases

Uber Accident Lawyer

Any kind of personal injury accident can be a nightmare to deal with. You not only have to deal with the physical injury that you have sustained but you are forced to deal with any financial losses that are relevant to your accident. For many people who have survived personal injury accidents, figuring out the next steps is one of the most difficult parts of recovery. If you are not sure what to do and are interested in filing a claim against the person responsible for calling you the accident, do not wait to speak with the lawyer so that you can make sense of your situation. They will tell you what to do for your next steps.

If you are involved in a divorce when the accident occurs, you also want to let your lawyer know because any personal injury settlement or award could have an impact on the division of assets and the marital estate.

Knowledge of the Rideshare Industry

Uber is a personal company and is one of the leaders in the industry. Because rideshare services make up a large portion of transportation services, there are many lawyers that have specific experience handling those cases. Lawyers who have knowledge in this particular area are familiar with the laws that regulate the industry, as well as the policies of Uber. When legal cases involving injured victims arise, Uber is prepared to fight them with their own powerful legal teams, so it is advantageous to hire a lawyer who knows how to respond to their tactics.

Negotiation with the Insurance Company

Dealing with insurance companies who are not willing to assist you or are even going so far as to blame you for your injuries is always a hassle. With a lawyer who has experience helping rideshare accident victims, you can depend on them to deal with the insurance company for you since they have strong negotiation skills.

Better Case Results

Many people who decide to hire a lawyer end up getting much better results compared to those who do not get a lawyer. Personal injury cases can be hard to do and they can be full of many complexities. There are complex local, state, and federal laws and the statute of limitations varies from state to state. A lawyer will be able to achieve optimized case results for you since they are knowledgeable about the claims process and laws.

Evaluate Your Losses

The types of injuries and number of financial losses also greatly impact personal injury cases. but with so many elements to evaluate, it can be overwhelming for the average person. Hiring a lawyer allows you to focus on your recovery so that the lawyer can focus on working on determining your losses.

Defend Your Rights

Reach out to a personal injury lawyer who has the qualifications necessary to guide you to the outcome that you want. A Uber accident lawyer will seriously defend your rights and pursue the person responsible for causing you harm. If you have been in an accident, you can rely on a skilled Uber accident lawyer to be your fierce advocate and pursue Uber to the fullest extent. They will hold them accountable for their actions and failure to protect you.

You should not have to endure the consequences of an Uber accident on your own. For more information, request a consultation that is risk-free and confidential with a lawyer who specializes in rideshare cases in your area that you can trust.

Dog Bites: Should You Pursue A Case?

Dog bites can be serious and even life-threatening, and if you have been the victim of a dog bite, you may be wondering whether or not you should pursue a case with the help of a dog bite attorney. Dog bites can be a traumatic experience and unfortunately, they happen more often than many of us would like to admit. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, it is important to consider your options for legal action. According to our friends at Cohen Legal, there are various factors to consider when making this important decision:

Understanding Dog Bites

Dog bites are a common injury, and they can lead to serious physical and emotional trauma. In California, for example, a dog bite victim can file a lawsuit to receive financial compensation for the damages they have suffered. In order to do so, it is important to understand the legal rights and responsibilities of both the victim and the dog’s owner. Dog owners are strictly liable for their pet’s actions under most state laws. This means that if a dog bites someone, the owner is legally responsible for any resulting injuries. It does not matter whether the dog had been known to be aggressive in the past or not; the law requires owners to take responsibility for their pet’s behavior.

Determining If You Have a Claim

According to most state’s strict liability laws, the owner of the dog is liable for any injuries that the animal causes, regardless of whether they had knowledge of their pet’s dangerous tendencies or not. To make a successful claim, there are several key elements that must be present. You must be able to show that the injury occurred due to the dog bite or attack, and that the owner of the animal was responsible for the injury. Additionally, you must have proof of the extent of your injuries, including medical records and evidence of lost wages or other damages incurred as a result of the incident.

When determining whether or not you have a valid case, it is important to consider any other contributing factors that may have resulted in your injury. For example, if you provoked or otherwise agitated the dog before it attacked, then you may not be able to pursue a claim against the owner. Similarly, if you were trespassing on private property when the incident occurred, then you may not have a valid claim either.

The Process of Filing a Claim

First, it is important to determine if you have a valid claim. You will need to provide evidence of the dog’s prior behavior, or prior attacks, if any. If the dog was previously declared dangerous by a court, this would be a good starting point. Additionally, you will need to provide proof that the owner was negligent in some way, such as not providing proper containment or warning others of the dog’s tendency to bite.

Once you have determined that you have a valid claim, you should contact an experienced dog bite attorney in your area. Your attorney will help you collect evidence and file the necessary paperwork with the court. The attorney will also provide advice on how to negotiate with the other party for a settlement or go to trial if necessary. The lawyer will also represent you in court proceedings and can help obtain damages from the responsible party. This may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages (if applicable).

Building A PI Case

Arbitration Lawyer

There are several types of personal injury cases according to a personal injury lawyer from The Lynch Law Group. Each case has its own unique characteristics and can possess unique facts and details. There are no two personal injury incidents that are alike. It is natural to wonder how much your case is worth when involved in a personal injury case. Having a personal injury attorney review the facts of your case and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf can be extremely valuable in this situation. As our arbitration lawyer knows well, with the help of an experienced attorney you may be able to avoid going to court altogether.

In addition to information found on the Internet, you should speak with an experienced lawyer for the best outcome. The main question you may have is “what makes my case worth fighting for?” Your case is worth fighting for when you are injured because of another party’s negligence. An attorney with experience in personal injury law is key to protecting the injured against the at-fault party because there are several laws in place. There are several factors to consider when pursuing a personal injury claim. You must also deal with the other party’s insurance company. Unless you are familiar with personal injury and how the cases work, this can be a bit overwhelming for someone without any background in it. Keep a record of all details, injuries, and life-changing events following the accident, and to the extent they are related to the accident, so that you can present the best case possible. Your attorney or opposing counsel should be able to use this information to support your case.

The first step you should take if you have been injured in a personal injury incident such as a motor vehicle accident is to contact the police. Once you do that, you should seek medical attention. It is a good idea to see a doctor after the incident to get a better idea of the injuries and damages caused by it. Your report will be somewhat of an unbiased report, and a comprehensive report written by the police will be helpful in building your case. An attorney will likely recommend ongoing treatment if you pursue a personal injury claim, as this will also help you build your case as it shows how the injuries have affected you. You should have as many details as possible to prove the other party’s negligence. Your absence from work, your inability to work, all of this is valuable. After an accident, you may not be able to participate in the activities you used to. You can change your life in many ways if you are involved in a personal injury case or incident. The more details you provide about your case, the better. Ultimately, the main focus of your attention should be on the healing and recovery process. It is recommended that you speak with a personal injury attorney if you or someone you know has been injured in an accident and needs treatment. A personal injury attorney can discuss what legal options you may have if you or this person has been injured. There is also a possibility that you might be able to receive compensation for your losses.

Questions For An Elder Law Lawyer

Every member of your family is precious. That’s why you never want to think about anything happening to any of them. However, if you have a loved one that is elderly or you are a senior citizen yourself, elder law impacts you; elderly family members often need protection from serious matters and it’s good to plan ahead just in case. If there is a legal matter that you need guidance on, you can turn to a lawyer for personalized help. They can offer beneficial and specific legal advice so that you can make the best decisions regarding your loved one. If you need more information, do not hesitate to ask a lawyer about how you can consider your options. Below are some of the most common questions that clients have for lawyers who specialize in elder law.

What documents do I need for my estate plan? 

Preparing an estate plan is often a complex possession. And you want to make sure that you do it right. However, knowing exactly what legal document that you need to prepare your plan can be difficult to figure out. There are documents such as a last will and testament, medical directives, financial records and more that you may want to include in order to create a detailed estate plan that addresses your goals.

What are common nursing home abuse signs? 

Finding out that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse is shocking and is difficult to deal with. Common signs of nursing home abuse include unexplained injuries like bruises, anxiety around staff members, and uncharacteristic behavior like changing a will. According to an elder law lawyer from our friends at Kaplan Law Practice, LLC, it’s important if you believe that your loved one is a victim of abuse, you can depend on a trusted lawyer to investigate and assess your case. They will tell you how to prepare your case by gathering evidence, information, and other steps that you need to take.

How should I prepare in case my loved one becomes incapacitated? 

Before your loved one becomes incapacitated, it is a good idea to put together an elder care plan that details what kind of medical treatment they will get, procedures that they consent to, and other important decisions. End of life planning can be a lot to consider, but it is best to know beforehand what kind of care that your loved one will receive. You and your family should have a discussion with your loved one so that they can communicate what kind of treatment that they would prefer to receive as well.

You can ask an elder law lawyer about a variety of issues that impact you as a senior citizen or an aging loved one. Turn to an experienced lawyer who has years of legal experience so that you can navigate your case successfully. Elder law can be a complex topic to understand and it concerns many areas. Whether you need legal or financial assistance, you can count on a lawyer to provide quality legal assistance. If you would like to learn more about how you can receive assistance from an elder law lawyer, request a consultation now.

Should You Speak With An Injury Lawyer?

Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have recently been injured or have acquired an illness under preventable circumstances that were either not your fault or were only partially your fault, it’s time to speak with a reputable personal injury lawyer in your area. If another’s negligent, intentionally dangerous, or reckless conduct caused or contributed to the causes of your harm, you’re likely entitled to pursue compensation from that responsible party or parties.

Partial Liability

If you are concerned that your right to compensation has been invalidated by your role in your injurious circumstances, it’s still time to speak with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. As an experienced personal injury lawyer – including those who practice at Therman Law Offices, LTD. – can explain in greater detail, Illinois honors a legal theory referred to as modified comparative negligence. This means that injury victims remain entitled to pursue compensation from other responsible parties, even if they were partially responsible for their own harm.

The only notable exception to this broad protection of injury victims’ rights comes into play when an injury victim is more than 50 percent at fault for their circumstances. In this scenario, a victim is barred from seeking compensation from “lesser” responsible parties in the state of Illinois. You may have heard stories of individuals who have won compensation awards even when they were primarily responsible for their own harm. It is likely that these cases were filed in states that honor a “pure” theory of comparative negligence, which doesn’t restrict a victim’s right to pursue compensation regardless of the degree of fault portioned to each party involved.

Is Anything Else Holding You Back?

If you are hesitating to speak with an attorney because you’re unsure of whether you have grounds upon which to file a personal injury lawsuit, know that you’re not alone. Many people refrain from seeking legal guidance unless they’re sure that they’re standing on rock-solid ground. This is, perhaps in part, due to the fact that lawyers don’t always have a great reputation in American society. Too many people have been burned by inadequate representation, junk lawsuits, and other frustrating outliers of the legal profession. As a result, they don’t want to interact with lawyers unless they have to or know for sure that they should.

Yet, it remains vitally important to explore your legal options, even if you’re unsure of the relative strengths and weaknesses of your situation. It is the job of attorneys to objectively assess situations and to provide personalized professional feedback based on that assessment. If you schedule a risk-free, confidential consultation with an attorney now, you may learn that you have strong grounds upon which to file a case. If you don’t take the time to explore your legal options, you may be left wondering “What if?” for the rest of your life. Given that you’ll be held responsible for all of the costs related to your injuries if others aren’t held accountable for their role in your harm, isn’t speaking with a lawyer a risk worth taking?

Reasons To Be Honest With Your Divorce Lawyer

If you are considering getting a divorce, it’s important to discuss your case with a divorce lawyer residents trust. A divorce isn’t something that you want to go through on your own. An experienced lawyer can guide you through the process and look out for your best interests.

 

Why You Have to Be Honest with Your Divorce Lawyer

Some people going through a divorce find it difficult to be completely truthful with their lawyer. They might feel embarrassed or just don’t want to share private information with a stranger. However, if you want a successful outcome in your case, you must tell the truth. Here are a few reasons why you have to be truthful with your divorce lawyer.

 

  • Your lawyer has to be prepared. From collecting evidence to taking depositions, there is a lot that goes into preparing a divorce case. That is why it is important to be honest with your lawyer from the start. You don’t want there to be any surprises. If you don’t provide your lawyer with the truth, he or she may struggle to represent you in court. 
  • Your lawyer has likely heard it all. If your divorce lawyer has been in practice for a while, probably nothing you say will shock him or her. Therefore, you should not feel embarrassed to tell your lawyer anything. He or she isn’t there to judge you.
  • Your lawyer has to trust you. In order for a successful attorney-client relationship, your Johnson County divorce lawyer, such as from the Law Office of Daniel E. Stuart, P.A. has to be able to trust you. For that to happen, you must tell your lawyer the complete truth. If your lawyer finds out that you lied, he or she may lose trust in you.
  • You will feel relieved. Initially, it may be difficult to discuss the private details of your divorce with someone you don’t know. However, once you get it off your chest, you may feel immense relief. You know that your lawyer has all the information he or she needs about your case and that there won’t be surprises later on.
  • You have attorney-client privilege. Attorney-client privilege means that your divorce lawyer can’t tell anyone else the information you provide. Unless you give your lawyer consent, he or she has to keep quiet. This can give you peace of mind.

Preparing for a Consultation with a Divorce Lawyer

In order to have a successful first meeting with a divorce lawyer, it is important to come prepared. Gather documents relating to your case, such as mortgage statements, tax returns, prenuptial agreements and joint financial accounts, and bring them to the consultation. Be prepared to answer multiple questions about your case and don’t hesitate to ask questions of your own. For example, you may have questions about your lawyer’s past experience. Write these questions down to avoid forgetting them.

 

Schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer to discuss your case in detail.

Reasons For Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Personal Injury Lawyer

What is UM Coverage? 

Uninsured/underinsured (“UM”) insurance coverage is used to protect you against drivers who have either no liability insurance or not enough liability insurance to compensate you for your damages. Currently, the minimum liability insurance coverage required by law  varies from state to state with some states being as little as $15,000 per person, up to a total of $30,000 per accident. If you are involved in a motor vehicle crash and sustain damages (i.e. medical expenses, pain and suffering,  & etc) greater than the minimums, there will not be enough insurance to fully compensate you. Even worse, if the driver is uninsured, you may not be compensated at all.  However, there is an exception if you were an occupant in someone else’s vehicle containing UM coverage. If that exception applies to you, contact an attorney to discuss your options. 

As explained by a New Orleans personal injury lawyer at The Law Office of Frank D’Almico, JR there are many reasons to have unisured or underinsured auto insurance.

What Types of UM Coverage Can I Purchase? 

When you purchase auto liability insurance, you are typically given the option to also purchase either (1) Economic UM coverage or (2) Non-economic UM coverage(which also includes economic coverage). In doing so, you will be afforded the opportunity to: (1) reject ALL UM coverage; (2) choose “economic only” or “non-economic” limits the same as your liability limits or (3) a lower amount if you had more than minimum liability limits ($15,000). “Non-economic” losses include, but are not limited to, pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, and others. “Economic” losses include losses that can be measured in specific monetary terms, including but not limited to, medical costs, funeral costs, lost wages and out of pocket expenses. 

Why Was I Not Told About UM Coverage or Why Was I Talked Out of Purchasing Coverage? 

Quite often, clients walk into my office and tell me that they were either not told about UM coverage or were talked out of purchasing such coverage. My explanation usually concerns the fact that UM coverage is (1) inexpensive for the insureds and (2) normally covers severely injured victims. Relative to the premiums paid for other types of coverage, UM premiums are  low. Thus, there is much less of a financial incentive to the insurance company to sell such a policy as compared to others. Further, most UM claimants have sustained severe injuries, rather than those soft tissue injuries that heal after little or no treatment. A UM claimant’s injuries usually involve herniated disc(s), head injury, fractures, open wounds, and others. Such injuries also result in loss of wages and pain in suffering. Therefore, the insurance company is obligated to pay out most of or the total limits of the UM policy. 

If you have not yet purchased UM insurance, it is not too late to have it added to your policy.  The risks of not having UM coverage outweighs the costs of obtaining it. UM coverage is a smart and affordable way to protect you and your family against financial hardship that may result from a motor vehicle crash.