When You Are Hit by a Car without Motor Insurance
There are still drivers behind the wheel without insurance, while a minimum liability amount car insurance is required legally in almost every state. In fact, about 1 in 8 drivers do not have auto insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council. And you are also prone to incidents involving uninsured drivers, even if you are a driver who follows the rules of the road.
We also outlined how to treat uninsured driver accidents and the best practices for insurance claim giving the confidence and knowledge to take the right steps in the event of the unexpected. An accident attorney helps to get rid of the entire complication.
When Hit by an Uninsured Motorist
These six steps after the crash are critical if an uninsured motorist has struck you:
Call the Police: In a lawsuit, a police report would be important evidence.
Request for medical assistance: ensure prompt care of your injuries and documentation.
Exchange contact information: get the name, address, and phone number of the other drivers.
Proof of record and photograph: the accident information will help to assess the fault.
Collect witnesses: gather details and statements from witnesses to the accident.
Following these measures would best prepare you for a claim or a complaint against the other driver against your own insurance provider.
Claims for Protection against Uninsured Drivers
Whew, you want to call your insurance provider to remind them of the accident now that you have all the information you need. As it will impact the whole procedure, make sure you report you were struck by an uninsured driver.
Here's where all of the knowledge you learned above will come into play. When calling to make a point, have the following on hand:
Get your insurance card out. You will need the number of your policy.
They would ask for the accident's date, time and place.
Remember all the information that you wrote down and the photographs you took? You will be asked to give a comprehensive account of how the accident took place, so have someone with you as descriptive as possible to make your report.
The claim officer usually asks for the insurance details of the other driver involved, but because it is non-existent, you should include the contact information that you were provided by the at-fault driver.
Provided that you have called the police, you can provide the name and the police report number of the police department involved.
Do's and Don'ts after an Uninsured Driver Strikes You
Call the officers. If you get into a car accident, regardless of whether the other party has insurance, calling the police is still a smart idea. But it is much more important to contact the police if you are dealing with an uninsured driver, as their report will help cover your costs and make the claims process smoother.
Do not accept money. You do not know what your damage or injury costs are going to come to you at this stage, so even though it seems like a good deal, hold off and do not accept money.
Do exchange information. Sure, they have no insurance information to give you, but you are always going to want to get the specifics of their contact and car. Do not forget to ask any witnesses for contact details as well, since their testimony can also be helpful during claims.
Collect data. Get the make and model of the vehicle involved, the time and place of the crash, and the responding officer's name and badge number. When dealing with the insurance agent, write down any important information you think could benefit you.
Click pictures. You would want to catch any harm done to your car and the other vehicle, the license plate of the other driver, traffic signals, and the direction each vehicle was travelling. Both are valuable information that when filing a claim can come in handy.
At The West Law Firm, our accident attorney would be assisting you to deal with such cases. For any other legal aid, contact us.
** Disclaimer: The above article does not imply a relationship between attorney and client, nor is it legal advice.