Crashes happen; sometimes someone might cause an accident because of a sudden distraction, and other times they might be driving recklessly following a night out on the town. Whatever the cause is for an accident, if the driver is insured, then most parties are able to get the compensation they need for medical bills and other financial losses.
What happens if a driver isn’t insured, though? To start with, know that around one out of every seven drivers is uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. It’s not as uncommon as it should be. If you’re unlucky and are involved in an accident with one of these drivers, it’s up to you to get as much information as you can about the driver, from his or her name and license information to a license plate number and phone number. Take photos of all the damage your vehicle suffered as well as damage to the other vehicle.
Call the police to the scene if the driver isn’t cooperating or if there has been damage or an injury. The police will want to document the crash and have a word with the driver; uninsured drivers are breaking the law.
Even if the driver doesn’t have coverage, there’s a chance that you might be able to be compensated through your own insurance provider. If you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, then you should be able to obtain compensation from your own insurance company. It then is the insurance company’s choice to pursue a claim against the driver to recover costs, leaving you out of the legal mess.
If you don’t have that insurance and still need to recoup your losses, your attorney can help you look at other options or pursue a lawsuit against the driver.
Source: FindLaw, “What to Do If You Have Been Hit by an Uninsured Driver,” accessed Aug. 30, 2016