Most people who drive also have car insurance; in fact, most states require that drivers carry a minimum amount of liability insurance – in essence, protection for the other driver in case of a car accident. Unfortunately, not everyone follows these laws. The Insurance Research Council estimates that as many as 14 percent of U.S. motorists drive without insurance. That means that there is a sizable chance that if you are in a car accident the other person involved may not be insured. Being in a car accident with someone who does not have auto insurance has a very specific set of challenges. However, in such cases, there are certain steps can be taken to ensure that you receive adequate and fair compensation.
The first step that should be taken in any accident is to call for emergency assistance and remain at the scene until the assistance arrives. Also, document as much information as you can about the other driver and any witnesses that may be present. License plate numbers, names, phone numbers and the like can be important in settling a claim. It’s also a good idea to take pictures with a camera or cellphone. This is crucial, because an uninsured driver may flee the scene of the accident, and if that occurs, pictures can help find and identify the person after the fact.
The next major step is to call your car insurance company to file a claim. Even if the person who hit you does not carry car insurance, you can still recover damages. If your insurance carrier offers uninsured motorist coverage, and if you opted for this coverage, you can collect damages from the carrier in the event that you have a collision with an uninsured driver. Uninsured motorist coverage typically accounts for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent injury, and loss of future earnings. Another option may be to pursue legal action against your own insurance carrier to recover damages caused by a driver without insurance. Uninsured motorist laws vary from state to state, but it is usually difficult to file a claim against a driver without insurance because they are often uninsured because of a lack of assets. An experienced attorney can be invaluable in these situations.
No one ever expects to be in an accident, but there are ways to be protected from certain situations. Be sure that when selecting an insurance carrier, the car insurance quote given includes uninsured motorist coverage. And if you don’t currently have uninsured motor coverage, find out what it would cost to purchase this coverage. Whatever the price, it is certainly worth it.
