While car accidents occur all the time, getting in one is never a pleasant event, especially if you end up with injuries from it. What is even worse, though, is finding out that the other driver did not have any auto insurance coverage. When this situation occurs, you may still be able to receive compensation for your injuries, but it may be a little harder getting compensated. Here are several important things to understand about accidents that involve uninsured drivers.
Why this situation creates a problem
When a person is driving without insurance, he or she is breaking the law. Most states require some form of auto insurance for all drivers, and this is basically to protect other drivers on the road. When a person hits you and has no insurance, it is much harder to get compensated for your injuries, and this is because the at-fault driver's insurance company normally handles the claim. If the person does not have an insurance company, it affects the way you will receive compensation for your claim.
You can look to your own policy
In this situation, the first place you should turn is to your own insurance policy. If you currently have uninsured motorist coverage, which most policies contain, you can use it to receive compensation. This type of coverage is designed exclusively for accidents such as yours, where the at-fault driver has no insurance. Your policy will pay out a certain amount for your claim if you have uninsured motorist coverage; however, it might not be as much as you could get if the driver had insurance of his or her own.
You have the right to sue the other party
If your policy does not offer enough compensation to cover your damages, you could consider suing the at-fault driver. If he or she has any money or assets, the person could lose these in the case. If the person has nothing to give you, suing him or her would not benefit you in any way.
The other party may also face criminal charges
The other thing to realize is that it is against the law to drive without insurance in some states. In this case, you could pursue criminal charges against this person for driving without insurance, and he or she could face steep penalties from this.
If you would like to find out how to proceed with your car accident case that involved an uninsured driver, you should contact a personal injury law firm to speak to a car accident lawyer. Law firms such as Terrel DoRemus & Associates can help.
