Washington Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

You were hit by a driver who had no insurance, not enough insurance, or fled the scene. The crash was not your fault. Your bills are stacking up, and now you are being told the other driver may not have coverage to pay for the damage they caused.

That does not mean you are out of options. In Washington, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist claims often move through your own auto policy. That can feel strange because the insurance company you pay may become the company questioning your injuries, your treatment, and the value of your claim. First-party insurers owe their insureds a duty of good faith, but people still run into delays, low offers, and coverage disputes.

McPartland Law Offices handles Washington uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, hit-and-run, and phantom driver claims across Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Spokane counties. Since 2012, we have recovered more than $75 million for injured people across eastern Washington. Before we negotiate, we review the available coverage, policy language, insurer deadlines, and damages record so the claim starts from a documented position.

Why Choose McPartland Law Offices for an Uninsured Motorist Claim in Eastern Washington

When the at-fault driver in your crash had no insurance, your own policy becomes the source of recovery and your own insurer becomes the party valuing your claim. That changes who you are negotiating with, what duties they owe you, and how the file gets handled. We have spent more than a decade working exactly this kind of claim in Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Spokane counties. We know how the carriers operating in eastern Washington handle UM and UIM files differently than third-party files.

Our approach is plain-spoken and practical. We do not negotiate any first-party claim until the insurer has verified full coverage compliance under our unique process. That single step changes what the carrier puts on the table.

Client Testimonials

“My family and I had the opportunity to work with Bryce and his team during a very difficult time in our lives. The service and representation that McPartland Law Offices provided was absolutely exceptional. I was thoroughly impressed by their professionalism, knowledge, and ability to help us understand everything throughout the entire process. To say they left no stone unturned would be an understatement. I will be forever grateful for the compassion and dedication consistently demonstrated by Bryce and his team. I highly recommend McPartland Law Offices.” — Claudia V.

“Prior representation gave me reasons my case wasn’t worth very much instead of fighting for me. McPartland was able to get all of the other persons ins coverage. I am so thankful for their help. They were very supportive and very nice” — Angela B.

“If anyone is in the Spokane area and is in need of A Great Law firm McPartland Law is Amazing. Helping 100% And fast…” — Denise M.

Meet Your Washington Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyers

Bryce McPartland

Personal Injury Attorney

Bryce grew up on a farm in central Washington. The oldest of seven kids, long hours in the 100 degree heat of central Washington state, pulling weeds in the bean…

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Bryton Redal

Personal Injury Attorney

Born and raised in Moses Lake, Bryton Redal graduated from Moses Lake High School in 2013. He attended Yakima Valley Community College and earned his Associates of Arts before transferring…

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We’ve Recovered Over $50 Million for Eastern Washington Injury Victims

Since 2012, McPartland Law Offices has recovered more than $50 million for injured people across Washington. Case results include:

• $7.6 million on a dangerous road claim
• $2.5 million on a trucking crash
• $1.1 million on a car crash.

Eastern Washington Coverage From Three Offices

We serve clients from offices in Moses Lake, Kennewick, and Spokane. That footprint covers Grant, Benton, Franklin, and Spokane counties and gives us working knowledge of the local courts, the regional adjusters who handle UM files for the carriers operating here, and the arbitration panels we appear before when policy provisions push a UM claim out of court.

What Is an Uninsured Motorist Accident in Washington?

Under Washington law, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can apply when a crash is caused by a driver with no liability insurance, a driver without enough liability insurance, a hit-and-run driver, or a phantom vehicle. A phantom vehicle is a vehicle that causes a crash without making contact, such as a driver who forces you off the road and leaves before anyone can identify them.

Washington’s UM/UIM framework comes from RCW 48.22.030. The statute requires insurers to provide protection for people who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of underinsured motor vehicles, hit-and-run vehicles, and phantom vehicles unless the coverage is rejected in writing.

Recent Insurance Research Council data reported that 21.7% of Washington drivers were uninsured in 2023, putting Washington among the states with higher uninsured driver rates. The corridors many people in this region drive every day, including I-90 through Grant and Spokane counties, I-82 through Benton and Franklin counties, U.S. Route 2, and State Route 17, carry commercial, rural, commuter, and long-distance traffic.

If the driver who hit you had no insurance, that does not end your case. It changes where the recovery may come from.

How UM and UIM Coverage Differ Under Washington Law

RCW 48.22.030 requires every auto insurer to offer both UM and UIM coverages with every liability policy. Neither is mandatory. Either can be rejected in writing when a policy is purchased. The question is not whether Washington requires the coverage but whether it is actually on your policy.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver had no liability insurance, could not be identified after a hit-and-run, or had a policy that was canceled, lapsed, or otherwise unavailable when the crash happened. UM coverage may also apply in some phantom vehicle cases where another driver caused the crash without making contact with your vehicle.

These claims often require evidence beyond your own statement, such as witness information, dashcam footage, traffic camera footage, scene photos, or a police report.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage

Underinsured motorist coverage may apply when the at-fault driver had liability insurance, but their limits are not enough to cover the losses they caused. Washington’s minimum liability insurance limits are $25,000 for injury or death to one person, $50,000 for injury or death to all other people, and $10,000 for property damage. A serious crash can exceed those limits quickly.

If UIM coverage applies and was not rejected in writing, it may help cover losses above the at-fault driver’s available insurance, up to your own policy limits.

How to Find Out What You Have

Pull your declarations page and look for uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage, along with the coverage limits. If you do not see the coverage listed, ask your insurer in writing for any signed rejection form. If the limits, exclusions, arbitration clause, or notice requirements are unclear, request a full copy of the policy and endorsements.

How to Know If You Have an Uninsured Motorist Case in Washington

A Washington UM/UIM case generally requires four things:

• Someone else caused the crash through careless or wrongful conduct.
• You were injured in the crash.
• The at-fault driver was uninsured, underinsured, unidentified, or driving a phantom vehicle.
• You had UM/UIM coverage on your own policy at the time of the crash or were covered under another applicable policy, such as a household member’s policy.

When those facts line up, the at-fault driver’s lack of insurance does not end your case. Your own coverage may pay for the harm caused by someone else’s negligence, up to the policy limits that apply.

Comparative fault can change the value of the case, but it does not automatically eliminate recovery. Washington follows a pure comparative fault system under RCW 4.22.005. If you are found partially responsible for the crash, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. You can still recover damages even if you share more fault than the other driver, unless you are 100% at fault.

What to Do After a Crash With an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver

The first calls and the first photos shape the claim. In an uninsured, underinsured, hit-and-run, or phantom driver crash, early evidence can make the difference between a well-documented claim and a disputed one.

Start with the time-sensitive steps:

• Call 911 and report the crash, regardless of whether the other driver claims to have insurance. The police report is your primary corroborating document on a UM claim.
• Photograph the scene before any vehicle is moved. Capture damage, positions, road markings, and license plates.
• Get the other driver’s full name, license plate, and any insurance information they show you.
• In a hit-and-run, note the vehicle description, direction of travel, and any partial plate you can recall. Get witness contact information while people are still on scene.

Then, before you talk settlement with anyone:

• See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks injury, and the medical record establishes the link between the crash and your symptoms.
• Notify your own insurer that the crash happened, but hold any recorded statement until you have spoken with an attorney.
• Do not discuss settlement value with the at-fault driver’s insurer or your own UM adjuster before you have reviewed the policy and the medical picture with counsel.

Washington hit-and-run claims carry specific police reporting and notice requirements that affect UM coverage. Reviewing those requirements early protects the file.

How to File an Uninsured Motorist Claim Against Your Own Insurance

A UM/UIM claim against your own carrier is a first-party insurance claim. The policy language controls many parts of the process, and Washington’s insurer-conduct rules affect how the insurance company must respond. Most claims move through four stages.

Notify Your Insurer in Writing

Most Washington auto policies require prompt written notice of any claim. The notice should identify the date and location of the crash, the fact that the at-fault driver was uninsured or unidentified, and that you are putting the carrier on notice of a UM claim. Failure to give prompt notice can be raised as a coverage defense by the insurer, so the notice goes out early and in writing.

Request a Certified Copy of Your Policy

Your declarations page is only a summary. The full policy and endorsements contain terms the declarations page may not show, including exclusions, notice requirements, arbitration clauses, claim procedures, and the process for selecting an arbitrator.

Ask for a full copy of the policy and endorsements in writing. A written request creates a record of when you asked and what you requested.

Document the Damages

Damages on a UM/UIM claim are documented much like damages in a claim against the at-fault driver. The file should include medical records, medical bills, lost wage records, treatment timelines, mileage to and from medical appointments, and out-of-pocket expenses tied to the crash.

Washington insurer-conduct regulations set timelines for claim handling and written responses. For example, WAC 284-30-380 requires an insurer to accept or deny a first-party claim within 15 working days after receiving fully completed and executed proofs of loss. Missed deadlines, unexplained delays, or unsupported denials can matter later if the insurer’s conduct becomes part of the dispute.

Negotiate or Demand Arbitration

Many UM/UIM policies in Washington contain arbitration provisions. After damages are documented, your attorney can prepare a demand, present it to the insurer, and negotiate for a resolution. If the insurer’s offer does not match the documented value of the claim, the next step may be arbitration under the policy.

Arbitration can move differently than a court case, and the outcome may be binding depending on the policy language. A strong file matters because the arbitrator still needs clear evidence of fault, coverage, injuries, wage loss, and future impact.

When Your Own Insurance Acts in Bad Faith on a UM Claim

In Washington, a first-party insured is owed a duty of good faith and fair dealing by their own insurer, and that duty is enforceable. A policyholder treated in bad faith has a separate cause of action against the insurer beyond the underlying UM claim itself.

What bad faith looks like in practice on a UM file:

• Unjustified delay in acknowledging or paying a documented claim.
• Lowball offers paired with a refusal to explain how the valuation was calculated.
• Repeated requests for documents the insured has already provided.
• Refusing to authorize an independent medical examination only when the insurer’s own medical review is favorable to the insured.
• Misrepresenting policy terms or coverage to the insured.

Insurance companies may use internal formulas or valuation tools when reviewing pain and suffering, but Washington law does not assign non-economic damages a fixed multiplier. A low offer is not justified simply because software produced it. The insurer still needs to evaluate the evidence and explain its position.

What Damages You Can Recover in a Washington UM/UIM Claim

Washington UM and UIM coverage pays the same categories of damages a third-party claim would have paid against the at-fault driver, up to the limits of the coverage on your policy. The recoverable categories include:

• Medical expenses, both past and future, tied to the crash.
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity if the injuries affect your ability to work.
• Pain and suffering and other non-economic harm.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Property damage, if UM property damage coverage applies under your policy.

Washington does not currently cap non-economic damages in most car accident injury cases. Family-based claims may also be available under Washington law, depending on the relationship and specific facts.

The damages record drives the claim. A file with current medical records, a clear treatment timeline, supported wage loss, and documented future needs puts the claim in a stronger position than a thin file presented late. McPartland Law Offices handles the damages workup as part of every personal injury and UM/UIM claim, including medical records collection and wage loss calculation.

Hit-and-Run and Phantom Driver UM Claims in Washington

In a hit-and-run, UM/UIM coverage may apply because the at-fault driver cannot be identified. Phantom vehicle claims can work similarly. A driver who causes your crash without making contact, such as running a red light and forcing you into a single-vehicle wreck, may trigger coverage if the policy and evidence support the claim.

These claims typically require proof beyond your own statement. Helpful evidence may include:

• Witness statements.
• Dashcam footage.
• Traffic camera footage.
• Scene photos.
• A police report.
• Nearby business or residential camera footage.

Two procedural issues matter early. Many policies require a police report when the at-fault driver is unidentified, and many require prompt written notice to the insurer. Missing those steps can give the insurer a coverage defense that has nothing to do with how badly you were hurt.

How Long Do You Have to File a UM Claim in Washington?

A UM/UIM claim can involve more than one deadline, and missing one can create serious coverage problems.

The first deadline is the three-year personal injury statute of limitations under RCW 4.16.080. That deadline generally controls a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for injuries from the crash.

The second set of deadlines comes from your insurance policy. Your policy may include notice requirements, proof-of-loss requirements, arbitration provisions, consent-to-settle language, and other claim conditions. A UM/UIM lawsuit against your own insurer may also be treated as a contract claim, but you should not assume the contract deadline gives you extra time to wait. Policy conditions can require action much earlier.

Missing the tort deadline can harm your claim against the at-fault driver. Missing a policy deadline or claim condition can give your own insurer a coverage defense. The deadline that matters most depends on the policy language and the facts of the crash, which is why an early policy review matters.

Most documented UM/UIM claims resolve after the medical picture is stable and the demand is presented. The timeline depends on the injuries, coverage dispute, insurer response, and whether arbitration becomes necessary.

Talk to a Washington Uninsured Motorist Lawyer Before the Insurance Company Decides What Your Claim Is Worth

Your insurer started valuing the claim on day one. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to push back on a low offer with a documented record. McPartland Law Offices handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call McPartland Law Offices at 509-495-1247 or fill out our contact form to discuss your claim. Free consultation, no obligation.