Unbelievably, a significant portion of the population is composed of uninsured motorists. While nearly every state in the country requires a minimum amount of liability coverage, many people unfortunately just ignore this law altogether. They drive without insurance despite the consequences. Typically, when you’re involved in an accident, the insurance of the at-fault driver handles the damage. Without insurance however, the situation is more complicated.
File a Police Report
First and foremost – before ever filing the police report, do not admit fault for the accident. Even if the other driver is uninsured, admitting fault could cost you a lot of money.
Once the police arrive, they will take a statement. You should have called the insurance company too, by the time the police arrive. A police report ties into the insurance report, as it provides validity to the situation. Furthermore, if the offender does not have insurance, the police will figure this out quickly.
File a Claim
Many insurance policies include uninsured motorist protection. If you were involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, your insurance will cover the damages once the situation is proven.
You want to file an insurance claim quickly, though. Most carriers provide a 30-day window to file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim. If you do not have either, you may still file a collision claim as part of your policy. They won’t reimburse you for medical expenses, unfortunately.
Press Charges
You may wish to hire an attorney. If an uninsured driver damages your vehicle or injures you, you must file the above-mentioned police report and insurance claim. The other driver does not have insurance, so they won’t be paying for your damages. You may wish to press charges.
Contact Us
If an uninsured motorist strikes your vehicle, contact The Durham Firm to find the proper legal recourse. Call us now at (214) 222-4000!
