What if You are in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver

While you may make sure that you have insurance, not all drivers are as responsible. In fact, even though the law states that some form of car insurance is required, around 1 in 8 drivers doesn’t have any auto insurance according to the Insurance Research Council.

What to do When You are Hit by an Uninsured Driver

Step #1: Call the Police

You want to call the police regardless of whether or not the other driver is insured. However, it is even more important when they don’t have insurance because police reports make it easier to get your expenses covered!

Step #2: Don’t Take the “Easy” Way

The other driver might try to offer you some cash because of their lack of insurance. You don’t want to accept $200 when your grand total of damages is $1000 or more. While it may seem like a good idea to take some money when the accident happens, just avoid it.

Step #3: Get Their Information

Even though they don’t have any insurance information they can provide, you still want to be sure to get some type of details. Get their vehicle, personal, and contact information.

Step #4: Details, Details, Details

This is a super important step. You want to get any and all information that you can about the accident. Some important key details are the vehicle descriptions, damage descriptions, location of the accident, information about the responding police officer like their badge number/name, and even any witness descriptions. You also want to make sure you get pictures of everything like their vehicle, them, traffic, traffic signs, road conditions, etc.

How Will an Insurance Claim Work When Dealing with Uninsured Drivers?

Once the proper steps are taken after the accident, you will want to contact your insurance company. Before getting into the claim process it is important to say the other driver was uninsured. Have your personal information ready like your policy number, I.D., and also all of the evidence you collected from the accident. You will be providing a detailed report of what happened to your insurance company.

What Happens if You are in a “No-Fault” State?

Unfortunately, if you find yourself in a “no-fault” state that means that regardless of who was at fault for the accident, the driver with insurance will have to cover the expenses associated to the accident. You will still have to file a claim with your insurance company, but don’t expect to get any assistance from the other party that was involved in the crash.

What is the Best Coverage Option for Accidents Involving Uninsured Drivers?

The best thing to do with uninsured drivers is to be proactive. You want to make sure that your insurance provider offers an option for uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage will make the process much easier if you get into an accident with someone with no insurance.

Overall

Anyone can get into an accident with an insured driver. However, not everyone has the knowledge to handle the situation properly. Make sure you stay calm, assess the situation, and you will be able to do what’s best! Don’t be afraid to contact your insurance provider for any questions involving uninsured drivers.