There’s nothing more frustrating and terrifying than being involved in an accident. And then, just when you think it can’t get worse, you discover that the person who hit you doesn’t have insurance.
You’re left wondering, “What now?” How do you make sure your medical bills are covered? What about the damage to your car, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you’re enduring?
If you’ve found yourself involved in car accident cases involving uninsured motorists, it is important to know that there are ways to recover your losses even if the driver responsible for the accident isn’t insured.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what steps to take, who to talk to, and how to give yourself the best chance of getting full financial coverage for the damages you’ve suffered.
Step 1: Check Your Own Insurance Policy
The first thing you should do after being hit by an uninsured driver is to review your own auto insurance policy. Many people don’t realize this, but your own insurance might actually help you out in situations like this. It all depends on the type of coverage you have.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
One of the most important types of coverage to look for in your policy is uninsured motorist coverage (often abbreviated as UM coverage). If the person who hit you is uninsured, your UM coverage essentially steps into their shoes. Your own insurance company will pay for all your economic and non-economic damages just as the other driver’s insurance would have if they had been insured.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
In addition to UM coverage, you should also check if you have underinsured motorist coverage (UIM coverage). For example, let’s say the at-fault driver has the state minimum coverage of $25,000, but your medical bills alone are $50,000. UIM coverage will help bridge that gap. Your insurance will cover the difference between what the other driver’s insurance pays and your actual damages, up to your policy limit.
Step 2: Filing a Claim with Your Insurance Company
Once you’ve reviewed your policy and confirmed that you have UM coverage, the next step is to file a claim with your insurance company. It’s important to do this as soon as possible. Many insurance companies have deadlines for filing claims, and missing those deadlines can jeopardize your ability to recover compensation.
When filing your claim, be prepared to provide as much documentation as possible. The more detailed and organized you are, the smoother the process will be. Here’s what you’ll need:
Once you’ve submitted your claim, your insurance company will investigate the accident and determine the amount of compensation you’re entitled to. This can take some time, but if everything is in order, you should receive payment to cover your losses.
Step 3: Exploring Other Avenues for Compensation
If suing the uninsured driver isn’t an option, don’t worry, there are still other ways to recover your losses. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be able to explore any of these additional avenues for compensation:
Health Insurance
If you have health insurance, it can cover your medical bills, even if the accident was caused by an uninsured driver. This is especially helpful if you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage or if your UM coverage isn’t enough to cover all of your medical expenses.
Bear in mind that if your health insurance pays for your medical bills, they may have the right to recover some of that money from any future settlement or judgment you receive.
This is known as a subrogation claim, and it allows your health insurer to be reimbursed for the costs they covered on your behalf.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
Depending on where you live, you may have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of your auto insurance policy. PIP coverage is designed to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs related to the accident, regardless of who was at fault.
In states where PIP coverage is mandatory (also known as no-fault states), you can file a claim with your own insurance company to recover these costs, even if the other driver is uninsured. If you live in a state where PIP is optional, check your policy to see if you opted for this coverage. If you did, you can file a PIP claim to cover some of your losses.
State Compensation Programs
Some states offer compensation programs for victims of uninsured drivers. These programs are typically funded by fees and fines collected from uninsured motorists, and they provide financial assistance to victims who have been injured by someone without insurance.
Eligibility for these programs varies from state to state, and the amount of compensation available may be limited. Even so, you could still check with an accident lawyer to see if your state offers such a program and whether you qualify for assistance.
