What to Do After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver

Statistics from the Insurance Research Council shows that one in seven drivers in the United States is uninsured. When a car accident occurs, usually the at-fault driver’s insurance covers the damages.

The IRC reports that nearly 14 percent of drivers are uninsured. So, what should you do if you have been hit by an uninsured driver?

1. Obtain as Much Info As You Can

Even though the other driver is uninsured, you need to gather as much information as possible. Get their name, contact information, driver’s license number and license plate number. Then, take pictures of all the damage to your car, the other car, and while you are at it, snap a pic of the license plate on the car that hit you.

1. Call the Cops

Whether or not the other driver is being cooperative or uncooperative, it can still be a good idea to get the police at the scene, especially if the damage goes beyond a fender bender. The police can document the incident, and the report can assist with your insurance claim later on.

On a side note, most states have laws requiring all drivers to have car insurance, including Florida. Due to the fact that uninsured drivers are breaking the law, it is probably best to get the police involved.

1. Call Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company so that they can check if your policy has uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If this is something you do not have, you should definitely consider getting it.

Uninsured motorist insurance compensates you for injuries and damages in the event you are in an accident with another party who has no insurance at all. On the other hand, underinsured motorist insurance covers the rest of the damages when the other side’s insurance is not enough to cover your total damages. To review, let’s say your underinsured motorist insurance covers $100,000. If the at-fault driver’s insurance covers $50,000 in damage, but your damages totaled $75,000, you would get $50,000 from the other driver’s insurance, and the $25,000 from your policy would cover the rest of the damages.

If you have been hit by an uninsured motorist in Crystal River, Inverness or the surrounding area, a Citrus County Auto Accident Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help you review your options and pursue a claim with your insurance and against the at-fault driver. It is best to speak with us as soon as possible as some insurance policies may have a time limit on when you can make a claim. For a free consultation, call us today at 352-726-0078 or contact us online.