Motor vehicle accidents happen every day, and we all take the chance of being injured in one every time we get inside a car. Car accident injuries are generally covered by a person’s own insurance policy, but if they are injured by another driver, it is that driver’s insurance policy that covers a person’s damages. Most responsible drivers have insurance coverage that pays for any damages they might have caused in a motor vehicle accident.
But what happens if an at-fault driver does not have car insurance, liability insurance, or any other type of medical payments coverage? This can be troublesome since some car accident injuries can be life-changing and traumatic. Continue reading to learn more about uninsured motorist accidents and liability claims.
Uninsured Drivers
Unfortunately, there are irresponsible drivers out on the road that neglect their legal obligation to obtain and carry sufficient liability insurance for their vehicle. When these drivers are the ones that cause serious accidents, they have no other choice but to pay out-of-pocket for the other drivers’ medical expenses, hospital bills, vehicle repairs, and more. Not only would an at-fault driver be obligated to pay for the other drivers’ losses, they would be issues state fines and face possible misdemeanor charges for negligently causing an accident and not being insured.
It is possible for an uninsured driver to flee the scene of an accident because they are not operating a vehicle legally. When this happens, it is important to make a police report immediately so that law enforcement can track them down and hold them accountable for the damages they caused. They would also be charged with a crime since it is illegal to flee the scene of an accident. If they cannot be tracked down, the only way an injured driver can recover for their losses is if they have their own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This kind of coverage pays for vehicle damages, medical expenses, hospital bills, and various other significant losses resulting from the accident.
If a person is injured in a car accident by a driver that does not have any insurance, and they themselves do not carry their own uninsured/underinsured motorist policy, they would have to take the at-fault party to court for recompense. If that person is nowhere to be found, or does not have any significant assets or wages to garnish, then the injured driver is left in the dust and must collect what they can from their own car insurance policy. This is why it is vital to hire a seasoned car accident lawyer if you are ever injured by an uninsured driver. They retain the proper resources and knowledge to organize your legal claim and negotiate your settlement with opposing insurance parties.
