What Steps Should You Take If You’ve Been Involved In An Accident With A Driver Who Doesn’t Have Insurance?
If you get into an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or inadequate insurance coverage, you may be worried and confused about what next steps to take. Car accidents are traumatic enough on their own, and the last thing you want to be doing is stressing yourself out more, especially when you’re already dealing with vehicle damage costs or medical expenses for injuries. Here is what you should do if you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Many Florida Drivers Don’t Have Car Insurance Coverage
Accidents happen- and when you get into a car accident, it can be extremely inconvenient and stressful. This is particularly true when it involves an uninsured driver. Unfortunately, sunny Florida is notorious for having one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country; the Insurance Research Council reports that 20.4% of drivers in Florida are uninsured.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Fortunately, there are provisions you can purchase that cover exactly this type of accident. Uninsured motorist insurance (UM) kicks in when an uninsured driver is found to be at fault in an accident and cannot pay for the damages they incurred. Underinsured motorist insurance (UIM) covers situations where a driver doesn’t have enough liability insurance and cannot compensate for the total amount of the damages incurred.
Steps To Take If You Get Into An Accident
- Call the police: The first step for any car accident is always to immediately contact the police in order to get a formal police report. This will come into play later when you file an insurance claim as documentation of the accident.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you don’t have any apparent injuries, you should always seek immediate medical attention as some injuries show up hours or even days later after an accident. It also provides proof of your injuries; If you don’t get checked out, insurance companies may claim that your injuries occurred after the accident.
- Get contact information: Get the contact information from any drivers involved and witnesses at the scene. Contact information includes license plates, phone numbers, emails, and addresses. By getting contact information at the scene, it makes it easier later on when you are filing your claim with your insurer and also helps you get ahold of witnesses if they end up being necessary for your claim.
- Contact your insurer: Read your auto insurance declaration policy to see if you have any uninsured motorist coverage, and what it covers. When you contact your insurer to let them know about the accident, they can also help you check if your policy includes UM or UIM insurance.
- Consult with an experienced attorney: The process for filing a claim with an uninsured driver can get complicated very quickly. Insurance companies are always looking out for their bottom line, which is why it’s advisable to have an experienced car accident on your side to make sure you receive the full compensation you are legally entitled to.
Contact Us Today
If you or somebody you love was recently involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, call BCN Law Firm to consult with an experienced Florida car accident attorney today.
