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Colorado Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Lawyer

19.7% of Colorado drivers were uninsured in 2023 — the 9th-highest rate in the nation — and Colorado saw the largest jump in underinsured-motorist claims of any state from 2017 to 2023 (Insurance Research Council)

Colorado uninsured underinsured motorist attorney

Mile High Legal Resource Center
By Grant Grosgebauer, Mile High Legal · Last reviewed October 2026

Nearly one in five drivers on Colorado roads carries no insurance at all, and many more carry only the state’s minimum coverage — which is rarely enough to cover a serious injury. When the at-fault driver cannot pay, your own policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may be the only path to fair compensation.

As a UM/UIM claims law firm, Mile High Legal reviews every applicable policy — yours, household members’ policies, and any other coverage that may apply — to make sure you are not left covering the cost of someone else’s negligence. UM/UIM claims are filed against your own insurer, and insurers do not always treat these claims as cooperatively as you might expect.

When UM/UIM Coverage Typically Applies

  • Hit-and-run crashes where the at-fault driver cannot be identified.
  • An at-fault driver with no insurance at all.
  • An at-fault driver whose policy limits are too low to cover your damages.
  • Pedestrian or cyclist crashes involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.

What Compensation Can Cover

  • Medical expenses beyond the at-fault driver’s available coverage
  • Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage, in the case of uninsured motorist property damage coverage

What To Do If the Other Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured

  • Report the crash and confirm the other driver’s insurance status through the police report.
  • Notify your own insurer promptly that a UM/UIM claim may be necessary.
  • Avoid giving a recorded statement to your own insurer without first speaking with an attorney — they are still an insurance company, even though they are “on your side.”
  • Have an attorney review your policy and any household members’ policies for additional available coverage.

Why Choose Mile High Legal

UM/UIM claims are filed against your own insurer, who has a financial incentive to minimize or deny them just like any other insurance company. We treat these claims with the same scrutiny as a third-party case, and review every available policy before accepting an offer.

What to do next

If you were hurt by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Colorado, call Mile High Legal at (720) 853-5779 to find out what coverage is actually available to you — free consultation.

Call (720) 853-5779

Quick Answers

What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, including hit-and-run drivers who cannot be identified. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are not enough to cover your damages.

Do I need UM/UIM coverage in Colorado?

Colorado insurers are generally required to offer UM/UIM coverage, though you may be able to reject it in writing [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — confirm current requirement]. Given how many Colorado drivers are uninsured or underinsured, this coverage is often the difference between full compensation and an uncollectible judgment.

Why would my own insurance company fight my UM/UIM claim?

Because a UM/UIM claim is paid directly by your own insurer, they have a financial incentive to minimize or deny it just as an at-fault driver’s insurer would. Some disputes can even give rise to a separate bad-faith insurance claim [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY].

Can I stack UM/UIM coverage from multiple policies?

In some circumstances, Colorado law may allow “stacking” coverage across multiple vehicles on a policy, or across multiple household policies, which can significantly increase the compensation available [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — stacking rules are technical and policy-specific].

How much UM/UIM coverage do I need in Colorado?

There is no single right answer, but given that roughly one in five Colorado drivers is uninsured, many attorneys recommend carrying UM/UIM limits that match your liability limits rather than accepting state-minimum add-on coverage [ATTORNEY TO VERIFY — personalized coverage advice should come from a licensed insurance professional].

What happens if the at-fault driver has some insurance but it’s not enough?

This is exactly when underinsured motorist coverage applies — it fills the gap between what the at-fault driver’s policy pays and the actual value of your damages, up to your own policy’s UIM limits.

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