Demand Letter — Uninsured Motorist
Demand letter to your own UM/UIM carrier seeking payment after an accident with an uninsured / underinsured driver.
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Jordan Alex Taylor
482 Elm Street, Apt 3B, Portland, OR 97214
Phone: +1 503 555 0118
Date: June 19, 2026
To: Pacific Auto Mutual
Claims Department - Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Re: UNINSURED / UNDERINSURED MOTORIST CLAIM AND DEMAND
Policy: AUTO-2026-OR-118432
Insured: Jordan Alex Taylor
Incident date: August 22, 2025
UM/UIM limits: $300,000 / $300,000 / $100,000 (per person / per accident / property damage)
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To the Claims Department,
This letter is a formal demand for payment under the Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage of the policy referenced above.
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INCIDENT DESCRIPTION
On 2025-08-22 at approximately 9:14 PM, while I was stopped at a red light at the intersection of NE Sandy Blvd and 47th Ave (Portland, OR), I was rear-ended by a vehicle that fled the scene. A passing motorist witnessed the incident and called 911 (Portland Police Bureau report PR-2025-088321). The fleeing vehicle was later identified as a 2010 Ford Fusion, OR plate XXX-XXX, registered to an individual whose insurance lapsed 6 months earlier. The driver was apprehended several days later and pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.
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OTHER DRIVER STATUS
► Uninsured (UM applies)
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INJURIES AND TREATMENT
Cervical strain (whiplash) and lumbar strain.
Posterior shoulder injury - rotator cuff tear partial-thickness (MRI confirmed 2025-09-08).
Mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) with persistent post-concussion symptoms (headaches, light sensitivity, brief-period memory issues) for 4 months.
Ongoing physical therapy 2x weekly since incident.
Missed work: 6 weeks fully out, then 8 weeks at reduced hours (50%).
Returned to full-time work 2025-12-15, with continued ergonomic accommodations.
Medical records, MRI, and treating-provider letters attached.
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DAMAGES (per applicable state law)
Medical expenses to date: $42,800 (paid by health insurance + out-of-pocket).
Future estimated medical expenses: $18,000 (continued PT, possible shoulder surgery).
Lost wages (full out + reduced): $26,400.
Future lost-earning capacity: $8,000 (estimated reduced productivity for 12 months post-return).
Property damage (vehicle - totaled): $14,500 (fair market value).
Pain and suffering (general damages): $80,000 (calculated using local jury-verdict ranges and pain-multiplier methodology).
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Total demand: $189,700
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DEMAND
In light of the documented injuries, treatment, and damages above - and the policy's UM/UIM coverage limits - I demand payment in the amount of:
► $189,700.00
I am willing to negotiate in good faith. However, given the clear liability (other driver convicted of leaving the scene), the documented physical injuries, and the substantial damages, I expect a meaningful response.
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LEGAL FRAMEWORK
This demand is made under:
- The UM/UIM provisions of the policy.
- State UM/UIM statute (e.g., Oregon ORS 742.502).
- The insurer's duty of good-faith claims handling under state law (Oregon ORS 746.230 and ORS 746.240).
If this claim is not resolved within a reasonable time (60-90 days), I am prepared to:
(a) File a complaint with the state Insurance Commissioner.
(b) Initiate UM arbitration as required by the policy.
(c) Pursue litigation under bad-faith claim handling if appropriate.
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REPRESENTATION
Counsel of record: Mark Rivera, Esq. - Pacific Personal Injury Law Group - mark@pacificpi.law - +1 503 555 0411
Please direct all correspondence regarding this claim to my attorney; I do not consent to direct contact between the insurer and me without my attorney present.
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Sincerely,
_______________________________ Date: June 19, 2026
Jordan Alex Taylor
About this template
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage protects the insured when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance. UM applies when the at-fault driver has no policy or is a hit-and-run driver. UIM applies when the at-fault driver's policy limits are less than the damages incurred - the insured's UIM coverage pays the difference up to the UIM policy limit, less any amount paid by the at-fault driver's insurer. Some states require UM/UIM coverage; many make it optional but require insurers to offer it. The demand letter formalises the claim and starts the negotiation - insurers often make low initial offers and require persistent advocacy to reach fair settlement. The "stacking" question - whether UM coverage from multiple vehicles in the household can be combined - is heavily state-specific (some states allow stacking, others prohibit it, others depend on policy language). The UM/UIM claim is an insurer adversarial relationship: while the insurer is yours, they are paying out under the UM/UIM coverage as if they were the at-fault driver's insurer, with similar incentives to minimise payment. Bad-faith claim handling (unreasonable delays, lowball offers, demand for excessive documentation, arbitrary denials) gives rise to separate state-law tort claims with potential punitive damages. For any UM/UIM claim with serious injuries, engaging a personal-injury attorney is strongly recommended - they typically work on contingency (33% pre-litigation, 40% if filed) and consistently improve outcomes. UM/UIM claims often go to arbitration if not resolved by demand-and-negotiation; the policy specifies the arbitration framework (typically AAA or specific arbitrator-selection rules).
When to use it
- Hit-and-run accident (no identified driver to claim against).
- At-fault driver with no insurance.
- At-fault driver with insufficient insurance (claim exceeds their limits).
- Phantom-vehicle accidents (forced off road, no contact, no identified vehicle).
- After exhausting at-fault driver's liability limits in serious-injury cases.
What to include
- Claimant identification and policy number.
- UM/UIM coverage limits.
- Incident description with police report.
- Other driver insurance status and proof.
- Injuries and treatment (with medical records).
- Itemised damages calculation.
- Specific demand amount.
- Attorney representation (highly recommended).