Despite stringent rules and car requirements for all drivers, you’d be amazed how many individuals get behind the wheel without insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), around 13% of drivers are uninsured.
This implies that in the case of an automobile accident, the opposing motorist has one in eight risks of not having insurance. All drivers must have liability insurance in the following quantities at a minimum:
Liability coverage for bodily injury is $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.
Liability coverage for property damage is $5,000.
Liability insurance protects people injured in an accident caused by the covered motorist. Those who suffer losses due to a driver’s carelessness may have to resort to their own insurance company if they do not have even the bare minimum of liability coverage.
Taking the Appropriate Steps
As with any automobile collision, always dial 9-1-1 so emergency professionals and police officers can reach the site. Give police officers your statement so that your attorney may receive the police report later. After you’ve taken care of your immediate health and safety, communicate with the other motorist.
If they don’t have insurance, obtain their name, contact information, driver’s license number, license plate number, and car make and model. Collect the contact information of any witnesses as well.
Take photographs of the cars, your injuries, and the collision site. The more data you have, the better.
Making a Claim for an Uninsured Motorist
You should call your agent immediately after the accident and advise them that you were struck by an uninsured driver and want to submit an uninsured motorist claim. After that, your insurance company will appoint an adjuster to your claim. The adjuster will examine the claim’s merits on behalf of your insurance carrier.
Insurance companies must provide UM/UIM coverage to their policyholders, but you can decline. However, if you do this, you risk incurring out-of-pocket charges if you are struck by an uninsured motorist, a vehicle with insufficient coverage, or a driver who leaves the scene after striking you.
Taking Legal Action Against the At-Fault Driver
You would only be able to submit a claim with your insurance carrier to be reimbursed for your losses if you had UM/UIM coverage at the time of the accident. Your next step would be to launch a lawsuit against the negligent motorist. In many cases, this is considered a last resort since the uninsured motorist will likely have very little money to their name.
However, this may be the best alternative for some people who still have out-of-pocket payments. If the at-fault motorist cannot afford to pay the damages in full, the court may establish a payment plan that gradually permits the person to pay you back. Your attorney may also do a credit check to see if putting a lien on their assets is possible.
Has an Uninsured Driver Injured You?
Even if your policy includes UM/UIM coverage, submitting an insurance claim is seldom a simple or quick procedure. Many insurance companies have strict deadlines when submitting an uninsured motorist claim, so make sure to put it on track.
Whatever course of action you select, it is always to your best advantage to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney who can evaluate the circumstances of your case and advise you on how to proceed to get the compensation you deserve.
Our legal team at Horton Law is committed to defending the rights of people who have been harmed. We have years of combined legal expertise and understand what it takes to help our clients recover properly.
Call our automobile accident lawyers at 888-822-6011 to get started on your case. We provide free, no-obligation consultations and take calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.