Ways To Recover Costs If Another Driver Is Uninsured In An Accident
Most states require drivers to carry minimum liability insurance limits in order to be permitted to drive. Liability insurance protects drivers from financial costs that can result from an accident they cause. Liability insurance covers damages to another person's vehicle or personal property as well as injuries to another driver, passenger, or pedestrian. When you obtain car insurance quotes, they will all include liability insurance and then you can request to add on optional coverages. However, if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, recovering damages may not be as easy as it sounds, even if you do have insurance.
To help combat the high costs of damages caused by an uninsured driver, many insurance companies offer under/uninsured motorist coverage. Depending on which state you reside in, this insurance may be mandatory or it may be optional. This coverage is designed to protect a driver if they have been involved in an accident with someone who has no insurance at all or only carries minimum limits that are not enough to cover any damages or injuries that may have occurred. You can purchase this coverage for property damages as well as to cover medical expenses that can occur from injuries.
If you do not carry under/uninsured motorist coverage and you are involved in a motor vehicle collision where the other driver is underinsured, then there are other steps you can take to recover financial losses. You can always take them to court and sue them for the damages or medical costs. It is important to remember that the main reason most people drive while uninsured is because they cannot afford to pay for insurance premiums. If this is the case, then it may prove difficult to recover monetary damages from them through a court order.
If this is the case, you can hire a lawyer to take legal action against your own insurance company so that they pay for any damages or injuries that you may have sustained at the hands of an uninsured driver. An accident attorney can help you receive a fair compensation from your insurance company if other means have proven to be unsuccessful.
No one ever plans on being involved in an automobile accident but you should always prepare yourself ahead of time for the unforeseen or unexpected. Whenever you obtain car insurance quotes, ask for under/uninsured motorist coverage to be included in the cost. The premiums for this coverage is relatively low compared to the expenses you may have to pay out if you don't have it. Spending a few dollars for something you hopefully will never have to use can save you time, money, and stress in the future.
