My Car Was Hit by an Uninsured Driver – What Do I Do Now?

With an estimated 40,990 car accident-related deaths in 2023 alone, being fearful of an accident is entirely understandable. Not only do you have to be concerned with your and your passenger’s safety while on the road, but you also must worry about those around you, even when they might be driving with the same level of concern. To make matters worse, those drivers driving without care for your safety may also be driving without care for your financial safety, either by failing to carry insurance on their vehicle.

What Does It Mean When a Driver Does Not Carry Insurance?

By this point, you are likely thinking, how can a driver not carry insurance? Aren’t you required to have insurance when you register a vehicle? While most states mandate that you carry basic liability insurance on your vehicle, the unfortunate fact is that many drivers still decline to purchase insurance, whether to save money or for some other reason. Indeed, up to one in seven motorists, or 14%, actively operated a vehicle without liability insurance in 2022.

This means that if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you will most likely have to use your insurance to repair your vehicle, even if the accident was not your fault. For this reason, many drivers elect to add optional uninsured motorist (UM) coverage to their policy to protect themselves from these situations.

What Is Included in UM Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage typically covers up to the amount of your basic liability coverage, and covers about the same amount as the other driver would have had if they have purchased insurance. It should be noted, though, that UM coverage only applies to the injuries that you or your passengers sustained in the car accident. If you have damage from your car accident with an uninsured driver, that would be covered by another optional add-on to your policy, Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage, or through your personal Collision coverage.

When Should I Consider Hiring an Attorney After a Car Accident With an Uninsured Driver?

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful, especially when it was not your fault and the other driver did not carry insurance. In this case, it may be in your best interest to hire an experienced car accident attorney who can relieve that stress and fight for you. Experienced personal injury attorneys at Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law can take on the brunt of the work in organizing your medical bills, obtaining evidence, and negotiating with insurance. We won’t take no for an answer, especially when it comes to getting the compensation you deserve for the injuries you did not have. Call our office today to get started with a free consultation!