There are three components of a personal injury case. First, was there an accident and were you injured? In other words, are there damages? Second, is there fault? Who caused the accident? This is called liability. If you are partially at fault, your damages may be reduced. Third, how will you be compensated for your injuries or losses? Most times, the person at fault has insurance and the initial payment will come from their insurance carrier. However, there are times when that person does not have sufficient insurance to pay for all of your damages. When that happens, you will file a claim with your own insurance carrier via your underinsured/uninsured (UIM) policy. Finally, there are times when the person at fault has to pay you more than his or her available insurance. Although realistically, the people who don’t have adequate insurance often don’t have adequate assets. This is why it is important to carry UIM and file a claim with your own insurance company.