How You’re Covered in an Accident with an Uninsured Motorist
Getting in an accident is bad enough but getting in one with someone who is uninsured can be a nightmare. If you have serious injuries and substantial damages, your bills can be incredibly expensive. Many Americans don’t have the savings to pay for these out of pocket, and you may even be out of work for a long time if you need to recover from injuries. So who pays for your damages if you are hit by an uninsured driver? Here are your protection options against uninsured motorists.
Negligence Laws
Before you panic, check your state’s negligence laws to determine if the other driver’s insurance company would normally pay for your damages. Some states run under no-fault laws, meaning that you cannot blame another person for the accident to get coverage. Instead, all drivers must make a claim with their own insurance companies, usually under a personal injury protection policy, no matter who was at fault for the accident. If you live in one of these states, you do not have to worry about the uninsured driver.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
To protect yourself against an accident with an uninsured motorist in a state that is not no-fault, getting uninsured motorist coverage is the ideal option. In some states, all motorists must have this coverage up to a certain amount. This is a comprehensive policy that covers you for injuries and property damage. Talk to your insurance company to see about uninsured motorist coverage. There may be limits on how much you can get depending on your other policies, such as liability coverage.
Collision Coverage
Collision insurance is an add-on to the general liability coverage. It normally comes into play if you are negligent in an accident and cause damage to another person’s vehicle or property. However, in the case of a negligent uninsured motorist who does not even have liability insurance, your collision policy can help with some of the damages sustained by your vehicle.
Health Insurance
Consider your health care insurance for medical costs that go beyond your personal injury protection insurance. Contact your health insurance to see what exactly your policy covers.
It is possible to bring a lawsuit against the uninsured motorist, but you should think carefully before doing this. Even if you win the case, the other person may literally not have the means of paying you, and you’ll be right back where you started. Discussing this with a lawyer, like a Scottsdale, AZ motorcycle accident lawyer from Yearin Law Office, can help you decide on whether to file a lawsuit.
