Hit by an Uninsured Driver? Learn If You Still May be Compensated

Posted On April 17, 2017 In Local Car Accidents

Many Americans find themselves in a situation where they have been in a car accident with somebody who does not have car insurance. The first thing that will come to mind is “great, now I will have to pay out of pocket for all the damages.” While there may be some situations where that is true, there may also be a possibility your insurance should cover you.

Prepare Ahead of Time for a Collision with an Uninsured Driver

• Do you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection? 21 states require that all drivers have uninsured/underinsured motorist protection, and there are two types of coverage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage (UMPD). UMBI will help cover medical expenses, lost wages, and any injury-related expenses for you and the passengers that were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. It also helps cover hit-and-run related injuries. UMPD helps with vehicle repairs. Underinsured coverage will help cover damages if the dollar amount of damages is more than the other motorist’s insurance plan will cover.
• Is my state a no-fault state? Texas is an at-fault state, which means that someone needs to be identified as being at fault for the accident so their insurance can pay the damages. Also, uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Texas. You are still able and advised to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage plans in at-fault states.

Have You Been Hit by an Uninsured Driver? Below Are Some Steps to Follow After the Incident.

• Contact local police: This is not a bad idea for any car accident, but is especially a good idea if there is an uninsured driver. Having a police report of the accident will help win expenses that you need. Make sure you take pictures of the damage while still on the scene.
• Contact Your Insurance Provider: Whether you have uninsured motorist coverage or not, your insurance company should be able to help you to their best abilities.
• Get Treatment and Repairs: If you do not have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage you will most likely pay the deductible out of pocket for your injuries and your health insurance will cover your medical bills. Document what repairs you had for insurance purposes. If you do not have uninsured motorist coverage you can still seek compensation in court.

Even if you do have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, your insurance company may try to work against you since they will be considered the at-fault party if you are hit by an uninsured driver. Contact Lufkin based car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for help with insurance coverage questions and car accident assistance.