It is important to think quickly after getting into a car accident. Asses the situation, check to see if anyone is injured and get medical treatment if needed. Quick thinking is especially important if the other driver states that they do not have insurance. What should you do? Does this mean you will not get the other driver to pay for the accident?
First, take a breath. You are not alone.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that approximately one in eight drivers does not have insurance. The organization also reports that the number of uninsured drivers is steadily increasing. If you are dealing with an uninsured driver, you are not alone. Thankfully, you still have options to get compensation to help cover the cost of the accident.
Next, move forward with a plan. Know your options.
A few options that may apply include:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Your own insurance policy likely has coverage in these situations. It may provide some compensation in this situation. Although helpful, the amount provided within this portion of the policy is often not enough to cover serious accidents.
- Health insurance. Your health insurance policy will also provide some coverage. This will help to cover the expenses that come with medical bills resulting from injuries that were sustained during the accident.
- A lawsuit. A personal injury lawsuit can hold the individual that caused the accident accountable for their wrongdoing. Of these three examples, this is the only one that actually holds the other driver responsible for the bills that result from the accident.
Like every accident, it is important to get contact information of the other driver, as well as passengers and witnesses. It is also important to get a copy of a police report and receive medical care as needed. Keep copies of all bills and make note if you needed to miss work because of injuries. This will be helpful when moving forward with a lawsuit to get compensation from the other driver.