Virginia Injury Attorney Blog

The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association for Fall 2010 features “Virginia’s new amendment to UIM statute will benefit clients”. Effective July 1, 2010, an amendment to Virginia’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage statute, Va. Code Ann.§38.2-2206(L), gives underinsured motorist (“UIM”) policy providers much-needed financial incentive to do the right thing for vehicle accident victims.

Historically, UIM carriers have refused to negotiate with and pay vehicle accident victims reasonably without forcing them to trial. Now, after the primary liability carrier has tendered its policy limits, a resistant UIM carrier automatically assumes full responsibility for the attorney’s fees and all other costs of defending the case thereafter.