You’ve just been injured in a car accident, and now you’ve learned that the at-fault driver has no insurance. This news can make an already stressful situation feel even more overwhelming, leaving you unsure of what steps to take next.
The good news is that being hit by an uninsured driver doesn’t mean you have no options. However, receiving the compensation you deserve can be significantly more challenging in these situations. In this blog, I will explain how accidents involving uninsured drivers differ from typical claims, outline the types of compensation that may be available, discuss why insurance companies still make it difficult, and show how an experienced injury attorney can help protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
How Uninsured Driver Accidents Differ From Typical Injury Claims
Uninsured driver accidents follow a different legal and insurance process than most injury claims, which can catch many people off guard. In most cases, the at-fault drivers insurance company covers pain and suffering and other damages, making the claims process much more straightforward. When the at-fault driver does not have insurance, however, there is no liability policy to pursue, making recovering compensation much more difficult.
Compensation
After an accident involving an uninsured driver, compensation begins with your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, as it would with any case. PIP benefits cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other certain out-of-pocket costs regardless of who caused the accident.
If you carry uninsured motorist coverage, you can now rely on this policy to help compensate for pain and suffering and losses not fully covered by PIP, just as the at-fault driver’s insurance company usually would.
However, you are only entitled to the policy limits of your uninsured motorist coverage policy. When this policy as well as your PIP benefits are not enough to fully cover your damages, or if uninsured motorist coverage is unavailable, the remaining option may be to pursue the at-fault driver personally. Unfortunately, this approach rarely leads to meaningful compensation, as uninsured drivers often lack the assets or financial resources needed to get a satisfactory recovery. This reality makes it especially important to maximize your insurance coverage to ensure you are compensated if you were to be injured by an uninsured individual.
The Role of Insurance Companies
Even when the at-fault driver is uninsured, insurance companies still play a large role in the claims process. In these cases, your own insurance company becomes responsible for paying benefits through PIP and uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it). While this coverage exists to protect you, insurers will still review claims carefully and do their best to reduce the value of your claim, questioning liability, medical treatment, or the value of your injuries.
It is important to understand that insurance companies are businesses focused on limiting payouts whenever possible. Even though the insurance company is technically on your side, they are still looking to decrease the value of your case. For this reason, having an experienced injury attorney is essential, as they can protect your rights and help prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of you.
How an Injury Attorney Protects Your Rights
Even when your claim is against your own insurance company, having an experienced injury attorney by your side is essential in uninsured driver cases. An attorney can review your policy for uninsured motorist coverage, ensure your PIP benefits are properly applied and identify all possible sources of compensation while building a strong case on your behalf.
Get David Get Paid
Being injured in a car accident can be overwhelming, especially when the at-fault driver does not have insurance. At Femminineo Law, our experienced team of injury attorneys understands the unique challenges that these cases present and knows how to navigate them efficiently. No matter whether the at-fault driver has insurance or not, we are committed to fighting for you and pursuing the compensation that you deserve.
With over 100 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Femminineo Law stand by injured clients at every stage of the legal process, protecting their rights and holding insurance companies accountable. You don’t have to face this process alone, call us today at
855-65-CRASH or visit our website at getdavidgetpaid.com for a free consultation.
