Having an accident any time is distressing, but if you are involved in an accident in which the other driver appears to have no insurance, it can cause even more anxiety. Although most all states require minimum amounts of liability insurance to be carried by all drivers, it is estimated that a minimum of fifteen percent of auto owners in the United States do not. This translates into a one in seven chance that the person who just ran into your car is uninsured.
This is a nationwide statistic, and doesn’t reflect those states who have an even higher rate of uninsured drivers—if you live in one of those states the risk of being hit by an uninsured driver is even higher. In a typical auto accident the insurance companies of both parties get involved, and whether there is a settlement or the case goes to litigation, the prevailing party will be paid damages. If you are dealing with a person who has no insurance, however, you may find it extremely difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve and greatly need, however there are remedies available to you to help get the compensation from the responsible party.
Following an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
If you’ve been in a car collision only to find out the other driver is uninsured, don’t feel like it would be pointless to call the police or your insurance company. In fact these steps are even more important in this situation. In many states if the damage to the vehicles was more than $500—and that can be the smallest scratch—you must report the accident or risk getting into trouble. In any case, document as much information about the person who ran into you as possible so you will be able to contact them if you need to. If they show you an expired insurance card, write down the information so you can contact the insurance company and confirm it has actually been cancelled.
Why Drivers May Not Be Insured
In most cases, an uninsured driver doesn’t carry auto insurance because they don’t have the financial resources to do so, which also means that pursuing legal action against the uninsured motorist could be futile—if they don’t have the money to purchase auto insurance they probably also don’t have the financial means available to compensate you even if you get a judgment against them. Your attorney can be the very best source of advice and information in such a situation and can explore all your options and let you know if pursuing the uninsured driver is a worthwhile endeavor, or if you should explore other options.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Many states require all residents to carry uninsured motorist coverage on their own insurance policy. Although you may have been annoyed that you had to pay a premium for the irresponsibility of others, you could be very glad, now, that it was required. If you have uninsured or underinsured coverage on your automobile policy, then you may be able to recover your damages from your own insurance company. Because insurance policies are notoriously difficult to decipher, contact an experienced car accident attorney and have them take a look at your policy to determine whether you may be able to file for damages through your own insurance company. A knowledgeable attorney may also be aware of insurance coverage you are not which will help pay for your injuries and damages.
If you don’t already carry uninsured motorist coverage, have it added to your policy. This type of insurance rarely costs much—so little in fact that you will likely hardly notice it—but it can be invaluable in a situation where an uninsured motorist crashes into you, leaving you with serious injuries and damages.