You did everything right. You were driving safely, minding your own business, when someone else’s mistake changed your life. Now you’re dealing with surgeries, missed paychecks, and a mountain of medical bills. Then you get the call from the claims adjuster: the driver who hit you only carries the state minimum insurance, and it’s nowhere close to enough.
This happens more often than most Minnesotans realize. And it’s one of the scariest moments in a serious injury case, because it feels like the money you’re owed simply isn’t there. Take a breath. In most cases, it is there. You just have to know where to look for it.
First, Understand How Little “Minimum Coverage” Actually Is
Minnesota requires drivers to carry liability coverage of at least 30/60/10. In plain terms, that means $30,000 per injured person and $60,000 total per accident, with $10,000 for property damage. If your injuries involve a hospital stay, surgery, physical therapy, or time away from work, that $30,000 can vanish before you’ve even finished your first round of treatment.
We’ve seen it happen to hardworking Minnesotans over and over: a serious crash, a driver carrying only the bare legal minimum, and a settlement offer that doesn’t even cover the ambulance ride. This is exactly the kind of gap the insurance companies are counting on you not knowing how to close.
The Good News: Your Own Policy May Have A Built-In Safety Net
Minnesota law requires drivers to carry underinsured motorist coverage, often called UIM, on their own auto policy. If the at-fault driver’s insurance runs out before your medical bills and lost wages are covered, your own UIM coverage can step in to make up the difference, up to your policy’s limits.
A few things worth knowing about how this works:
- UIM coverage is yours. It doesn’t raise your rates to use it, and it exists specifically for situations like this.
- It applies whether you were driving, riding as a passenger, walking, or biking when you were hit, as long as the coverage is on a policy that applies to you or a household member.
- Minnesota’s required UIM minimum mirrors the liability minimum, but many people carry higher limits without realizing it. It’s worth pulling your declarations page or having someone check for you.
- If you live with family members who have their own auto policies, their UIM coverage may also apply to your claim, which can open up additional funds.
The Insurance Reality Check Nobody Warns You About
Here’s the part that catches people off guard. When you file a UIM claim, you’re not dealing with a stranger’s insurance company anymore. You’re dealing with your own insurer, the one you’ve paid premiums to for years. It’s natural to assume they’ll be on your side.
They aren’t, not really. Your insurer is still a business, and a UIM claim is still a claim they’d rather pay less on. Adjusters are trained to settle quickly and cheaply, often before you know the full extent of your injuries or before your doctors have finished treating you. A quick lowball offer might sound like relief when you’re staring at bills, but once you accept it, you can’t go back and ask for more later if your condition gets worse.
This is exactly why so many people who try to handle a UIM claim alone end up settling for far less than their injury is actually worth.
What We Do Differently At 612-Injured
For more than 25 years, our firm has gone toe to toe with insurance companies across Minnesota, including the ones people least expect to fight, their own. We know how UIM claims are evaluated, what documentation adjusters look for, and where they try to trim your payout. That institutional knowledge means we’re not guessing at strategy. We’ve built it fighting these exact battles for a long time.
Our founding partners bring a “never back down” mindset that comes from real experience under pressure. Ben Heimerl served in the U.S. Marine Corps on a Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, and Mike Lammers served in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War. That background shapes how we approach every case: we don’t get rattled, and we don’t fold when an insurance company tries to wait us out.
When you call 612-Injured, you’re not handed off to a junior associate. You work directly with seasoned trial attorneys who know how to build your claim from day one, including identifying every possible source of coverage, whether that’s the at-fault driver’s policy, your own UIM coverage, or a household member’s policy. Several of our attorneys have earned recognition as Super Lawyers and in Best Lawyers in America®, distinctions that come from other attorneys, not advertising.
Steps To Take If You Suspect The Other Driver Is Underinsured
- Don’t sign anything from any insurer, including your own, until you know your full medical picture. Injuries like concussions and soft tissue damage often get worse before they get better.
- Locate your own auto policy and any policies held by household members. UIM coverage can come from more than one place.
- Keep records of every medical visit, missed workday, and out-of-pocket expense. These numbers matter when it comes time to justify a UIM claim.
- Get a straight answer on the at-fault driver’s actual policy limits. This isn’t always something insurers hand over willingly.
- Talk to a Minnesota attorney before accepting any settlement. Once you sign a release, that door closes for good.
For more background on how underinsured motorist coverage works under Minnesota law, the Minnesota Department of Commerce publishes consumer guides on auto insurance requirements, and the Insurance Information Institute offers a helpful plain-language overview of how these claims typically play out nationwide.
You’re Not Stuck With Whatever The Other Driver’s Insurance Offers
An underinsured at-fault driver doesn’t have to mean an underpaid claim. Minnesota law built in a safety net for exactly this situation. The challenge is that unlocking it takes someone who knows how to find every available policy, document your losses properly, and stand firm when an insurer, even your own, tries to close the file cheap.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own, and you don’t have to leave your couch or hospital bed to get real answers. We’re available 24/7 by call or text, and we’ll come to you.
If you or someone you love was seriously hurt by a driver who didn’t carry enough insurance, text or call our Minneapolis catastrophic injury attorneys at (612) 465-8733 for a free consultation. We can meet you at home, at the hospital, or wherever is easiest, and we’ll walk you through exactly what your coverage looks like and what your options are.
This blog post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and the outcome of any claim depends on its specific facts. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship with 612-Injured. If you have been injured in an accident, please contact us directly to discuss the details of your situation.