Drivers in all states must carry at least minimal car insurance protections, which typically includes some form of liability insurance and medical insurance. If drivers are involved in an accident, insurance protects their ability to pay for damages.
However, some motorists drive their cars without any insurance coverage. If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you still have options to get compensation and to make sure your outcome is fair. However, the accident aftermath processes will be different.
Protecting Yourself from Uninsured Drivers
Indiana law requires that drivers purchase at least minimum liability coverage for their cars. However, many automobile owners still drive their cars without any insurance coverage.
Your car insurance policy can include uninsured motorist insurance (UMI). If an uninsured motorist hits your car, UMI can protect coverage for you and any passengers in your vehicle, as it covers medical bills, lost wages, physical and emotional pain, and property damage. UMI might also provide coverage after a hit and run. Most car insurance policies in Indiana include UMI coverage.
After an accident, your immediate attention should be on your own safety and injuries and helping anyone else who may be injured. But if you have UMI coverage and an at-fault, uninsured driver hits your car, you’ll need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurer. The process should then be similar to a regular car insurance claim, but be sure to notify your insurance company quickly, as with any car insurance claim.
Liability coverage minimums say that Indiana drivers must carry insurance that covers at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for total bodily injury or death liability, and $25,000 for property damage. While these minimums help to ensure coverage for property damage and for medical bills for everyone involved in an accident, you can usually add additional coverage in case a serious accident occurs.
After filing a UMI claim, you must prove that the other driver caused the accident, that the driver was uninsured, and that you suffered damages. Insurance companies do not pay every UMI claim that’s filed, however. So it is still important to contact an Indiana automobile accident attorney right away to help navigate your compensation.
Filing a Lawsuit
Car crash victims can sue the uninsured driver in order to seek compensation. However, the person who caused the accident may likely not have enough money to provide adequate compensation out of pocket.
Even if the uninsured driver is determined to be responsible, the amount of money awarded will probably not be very large, as compensation can be limited to a defendant’s savings and value of their assets.
Hitting a Driver Who’s Not Insured
If you, an insured motorist, hit a driver who’s not insured, you would be responsible for damages if you are at fault. Indiana is an at-fault state in terms of car accidents, so you would have to cover property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages and costs via your insurance company. It is still important to follow the proper steps after an accident, no matter who is at fault, including calling for medical help, exchanging contact information with the other driver, and taking photos of the accident scene.
Don’t Wait to Call Experienced Legal Experts
With any car accident case, it is best to have a knowledgeable, experienced legal team on your side from the start. Even though automobile accidents are traumatic events, having the right Indiana car accident lawyer supporting your case and helping you to manage compensation can make all of the difference in easing a stressful time.
So, contact the Crossen Law Firm for a free consultation. If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver or if you were involved in any sort of car accident, we are here to fight for your fair treatment and compensation.
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