Posted in Auto Accident, Auto Insurance
After you have been in some kind of car accident, whether it is a minor fender bender or a more serious accident, you may at least have the hope that you can file a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance to get compensation for your injuries. However, what do you do when the other driver does not have insurance? When you believe that the other driver is at fault for the car accident—and thus at fault for your injuries—it can be a tough pill to swallow to suddenly realize you may not be getting the compensation that you deserve after an accident. It can be incredibly helpful to speak with a lawyer when you believe you are up against an uninsured motorist after an accident to get their take on what you can be doing.
What can you be doing?
If you are getting ready to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance only to realize that they are uninsured, you may feel devastated. When this happens, a lawyer, like a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Ward & Ward Law Firm, knows that your best bet for recovering anything will be through your own car insurance. Most car insurance companies offer uninsured motorist protection (UIM) and some states even require it. Although it can be incredibly frustrating to get into an accident with someone who does not have car insurance (and this is something that every person who operates a motor vehicle on the road should have), arming yourself with UIM coverage might be the wisest thing you do.
Living in a No-Fault State
If you live in a no-fault car insurance state anyway, being injured by an uninsured driver may not matter that much at all. When this is the case, you will likely be turning to your own insurance coverage when it comes to paying for your medical bills after an accident. Many people also believe that even if they cannot successfully get the other party’s insurance to cover their damages they can still file a lawsuit. However, it is best to speak with your lawyer about whether this could end up being a dead-end or not. Many people who do not have car insurance coverage likely will not have many assets either, so you may be going to the effort of filing a lawsuit with little outcome.
It is important to work with a lawyer after you have been in a car accident because they will be able to determine what your best course of action is if you have gotten injured by an uninsured motorist and help you develop a plan. If you need help with a car accident claim or finding out what next steps you should take, reach out to a local lawyer for more information.