🏆 $60M+ Recovered • Super Lawyers 2024-25 • 25+ Years Experience • No Fee Unless You Win
When the at-fault driver has insurance but not nearly enough to cover your serious injuries, you’re facing an underinsured motorist situation that can leave you drowning in medical bills despite “having insurance.” In Missouri, where drivers are only required to carry $25,000 in liability coverage per person, a single trip to the emergency room after a serious accident can exceed the at-fault driver’s entire policy limits.
At The Dixon Injury Firm, we’ve spent over 25 years helping St. Louis families navigate the complex world of underinsured motorist claims. Our experienced underinsured motorist lawyers understand that having “some” insurance isn’t the same as having “enough” insurance—and we know exactly how to bridge that gap to get you the full compensation you deserve.
We’re your neighbors in the St. Louis community, and we’ve recovered more than $60 million for clients who found themselves in the frustrating position of being seriously injured by someone whose insurance simply wasn’t adequate to cover the real cost of their damages.
Underinsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you when the at-fault driver’s insurance limits are insufficient to fully compensate you for your injuries and damages. This coverage acts as a safety net, filling the gap between what the other driver’s insurance pays and what your case is actually worth.
Missouri’s Minimum Requirements Create Coverage Gaps:
How Underinsured Coverage Works: Your underinsured motorist coverage kicks in when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are exhausted but your damages exceed those limits. For example, if you have $100,000 in underinsured coverage and the at-fault driver has $25,000 in liability coverage, you could potentially recover up to $100,000 from your own policy after the other driver’s $25,000 is exhausted.
Coverage Limits and Stacking: Missouri allows stacking of underinsured motorist coverage in certain circumstances, potentially combining coverage from multiple vehicles or policies. Our underinsured motorist lawyers can analyze your specific situation to determine if stacking applies and maximize your available coverage.
Highway Collisions on Major Routes: High-speed accidents on I-64, I-70, I-270, and Highway 40 often result in catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care that far exceed Missouri’s minimum insurance requirements.
Intersection Accidents at Busy St. Louis Crossroads: Serious collisions at major intersections like Grand and Forest Park Avenue, Kingshighway and Manchester Road, or Hampton and Highway 40 frequently involve injuries requiring surgery, physical therapy, and extended time off work.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents: When a commercial driver carries only minimum coverage but causes a serious accident with their larger vehicle, the damage to your smaller passenger car—and to you—often far exceeds their policy limits.
Multi-Vehicle Pile-ups: Chain reaction accidents involving multiple vehicles can result in severe injuries where the at-fault driver’s limited coverage must be spread among several victims, leaving each person undercompensated.
Immediate Coverage Analysis: Our underinsured motorist lawyers begin by thoroughly reviewing all available insurance policies—the at-fault driver’s coverage, your own policy, household member policies, and any applicable employer coverage—to identify every potential source of compensation.
Comprehensive Damage Assessment: We work with medical experts, economists, and vocational rehabilitation specialists to fully document the true cost of your injuries, including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering that extends far beyond immediate medical bills.
Strategic Claim Presentation: Underinsured motorist claims require careful coordination between the at-fault driver’s insurance company and your own insurer. Our lawyers manage this complex process, ensuring claims are presented strategically to maximize recovery from all available sources.
Aggressive Advocacy Against Your Own Insurer: Many people are surprised to learn that pursuing underinsured motorist benefits often means taking on their own insurance company. We have extensive experience fighting insurers who try to minimize these claims and know how to counter their tactics effectively.
Complex Policy Interpretation: Underinsured motorist policies contain specific language about coverage triggers, offsets, and exclusions that can significantly impact your recovery. Our underinsured motorist lawyers understand these nuances and how to interpret policy language in your favor.
Coordination of Multiple Claims: These cases often involve simultaneous claims against the at-fault driver’s insurer and your own company, requiring careful timing and strategy to avoid jeopardizing either claim.
Valuation Challenges: Insurance companies often dispute the value of your claim, arguing that your injuries aren’t severe enough to exceed the at-fault driver’s coverage. We have the expertise to properly document and present your damages.
Coverage Disputes: Insurers may claim your underinsured coverage doesn’t apply or that other exclusions prevent payment. Our lawyers know how to challenge these denials and enforce your coverage rights.
Most Missouri auto insurance policies include this coverage unless specifically rejected in writing. We can review your policy to determine your coverage limits and how they apply to your situation.
Yes. Missouri’s pure comparative fault system allows recovery even if you bear some responsibility for the accident, though your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Uninsured coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured coverage applies when they have insurance, but not enough to fully compensate you for your damages.
While Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you five years to file a lawsuit, your insurance policy may require prompt notice of underinsured claims. It’s crucial to contact an underinsured motorist lawyer as soon as possible.
Generally, no. Since you’re not at fault for the accident, filing an underinsured motorist claim typically won’t affect your premiums, though specific policies may vary.
Before accepting any settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurer, consult with an underinsured motorist lawyer. Accepting their policy limits may trigger your underinsured coverage, but the timing and manner of settlement can impact your total recovery.
Medical Expenses That Exceed Minimum Coverage:
Lost Income and Earning Capacity:
Long-term Care and Accommodation Costs:
Our underinsured motorist lawyers represent accident victims throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, including:
St. Louis County: Clayton, University City, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Ballwin, Chesterfield, and surrounding communities
St. Charles County: St. Charles, O’Fallon, Wentzville, St. Peters, and Lake Saint Louis
Jefferson County: Arnold, Festus, Hillsboro, and Imperial
Illinois Metro East: Belleville, O’Fallon, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Alton, and East St. Louis
Immediately After Your Accident If:
During the Claims Process If:
Our team brings over 25 years of experience specifically handling the complex insurance issues that arise in underinsured motorist cases. We understand Missouri insurance law, know how to maximize coverage from multiple sources, and have the trial experience necessary to fight insurance companies that wrongfully deny or undervalue claims.
We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis—no fee unless we win—ensuring that quality legal representation is accessible regardless of your financial situation. Our deep roots in the St. Louis community mean we understand the local factors that impact your case and have established relationships with medical experts and other professionals who can strengthen your claim.
Underinsured motorist cases involve strict deadlines and complex insurance procedures that can trap the unwary. The sooner our underinsured motorist lawyers can begin working on your case, the better we can protect your interests and maximize your recovery.
Don’t let insufficient insurance coverage leave you financially devastated by someone else’s negligence. Contact The Dixon Injury Firm today for a free consultation about your underinsured motorist case.
Your neighbors at The Dixon Injury Firm are ready to fight for every dollar you deserve. Because when inadequate insurance coverage isn’t enough, we bridge the gap.
Many personal injury law factories get as many clients in the door as possible, hoping one will be the jackpot. Not us. At The Dixon Injury Firm, we’re highly selective about our cases because we devote considerable time and attention to each client.
