Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Millions Of Dollars Recovered For Bad Faith Insurance Denials

Covering The Cost When The At-Fault Driver Can’t

If you suffered a serious or catastrophic injury, but the person who hit you only had a $25,000 minimum policy, that $25,000 may not be nearly enough to cover the full cost of your hospital stay, medical treatment and care. In a situation like this, you need your own insurance company to cover the rest of the cost. That is the whole point of having uninsured/underinsured motorists (UM/UIM) coverage on your car insurance policy.

But what happens when your insurance company denies your claim? What can you do if it refuses to pay for the care you need and deserve?

Turn to Mansell & Engel. Since 1994, we have been representing premium-paying policyholders against their own insurance companies, when those companies wrongfully deny claims and act in bad faith. Your insurance company has the duty to treat you fairly. If it does not, our highly experienced attorneys can help you obtain justice. We may also be able to seek punitive damages on your behalf, which is additional money that goes above and beyond the amount you were originally owed.

You Have A Right To Use The UM/UIM Benefits You Bought

Your UM/UIM coverage is meant to provide you with extra protection, should you become involved in an auto accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. It also covers accidents caused by hit-and-run drivers.

You paid for this protection — and as with any other product that you purchase, you deserve to enjoy its benefits. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t always keep the best interests of their policyholders in mind. Although your company should promptly give you the amount you deserve, you may find that it delays, it underpays you or it refuses to pay at all.

You can expect these tactics from the other driver’s insurance company, but you shouldn’t have to deal with it from yours. Under the law, your company is obligated to handle the claim in a way that protects your best interests.

Frequently Asked Questions On Uninsured Motorist Coverage

When an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) accident leaves you struggling to recover, the last thing you expect is a denied insurance claim. Unfortunately, these denials happen far too often. Below, we have answered some of the most common questions about denied UM/UIM claims:

Why might an insurance company deny a UM/UIM claim?

Insurance companies may deny your claim for several reasons, some of which are valid and others that are not. In our experience, the most common reasons include:

Disputes about who was at fault for the accident
Claims that your injuries are not severe or were not caused by the crash
The insurer believes you did not report the accident in time
Policy exclusions or lapsed coverage
Insufficient documentation of medical treatment or damages

Even if the denial sounds final, we always recommend having a lawyer review the details. Sometimes, insurance companies rely on technicalities or flawed investigations to justify their decision.

How long does it take to resolve a denied UM/UIM claim in Oklahoma?

The timeline depends on several factors, including how complex the case is and whether it needs to go to court.

Simple appeals may take anywhere from 30 to 90 days, especially if the denial was based on missing paperwork or a misunderstanding of the facts.
More complex cases, including those that require extensive medical documentation or involve serious injuries, may take three to six months or more.
Litigated cases, where we need to file a lawsuit and potentially go to trial, can take a year or longer. This depends on the court’s schedule and the insurer’s cooperation.

We work efficiently and keep you informed at every step. Our goal is to resolve your case as quickly as possible without sacrificing the compensation you deserve.

Can Mansell & Engel help me even if the insurance company says their decision is final?

Yes. We have helped many clients after they were told, “There is nothing more you can do.” A final decision from the insurance company does not always mean the matter is closed. As attorneys, we can:

Review your policy and claim
Gather new evidence or expert opinions
Challenge the denial through an appeal or lawsuit

Do not accept a denial without talking to an attorney. If you are in Oklahoma, Mansell & Engel is here to help protect your rights.

Offering Attentive Service And A Free Consultation

In order to ensure that we offer our clients the necessary attention and thoughtful preparation, we are selective about the cases we accept. You are never treated as just another case number or file.

At Mansell & Engel, we also strongly believe that our clients should never have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for legal costs and fees, especially if your financial well-being is being jeopardized by a careless insurance company. For this reason, we only charge lawyer fees if we are successful for you.

Call 405-232-4100 or email our office in Oklahoma City for a free consultation about your particular insurance dispute.

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