Following a car accident, victims normally have many options to recover compensation for damages like medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering. One of the ways to recover compensatory damages is by filing a car accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. You and your car accident lawyer can negotiate a settlement with their insurer that can pay you for your economic and non-economic losses.
However, car accidents with uninsured drivers make filing a car accident claim hard. They do not have an insurance company to negotiate a settlement with, and the at-fault party likely does not have the assets necessary to compensate you for your damages. Car accidents involving uninsured motorists require victims to recover compensation from their car insurance.
Car Accidents Involving Uninsured Motorists
Car accidents occur when two vehicles crash into each other, resulting in severe injuries. In most cases, drivers will have auto insurance they can use to recover compensation for a percentage of medical bills and lost wages. In some states, drivers must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) that helps pay for damages regardless of liability.
However, not all drivers have auto insurance. A motorist may be uninsured because they cannot afford insurance or don’t want it. Whatever the case, car accidents with uninsured drivers can make pursuing compensation to pay for the full cost of car accident damages difficult.
Car Accident Victims May Find It Hard To Recover Compensation from an Uninsured Motorist
If a motorist you were in a car accident with does not have auto insurance, you may be unable to file a car accident claim to pursue compensation for damages. Car accident claims are filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company because most people do not have tens of thousands of dollars to pay for economic damages.
Filing a car accident claim is the main way for a car accident victim to pursue compensatory damages. They can negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company that can pay for their economic and non-economic damages. Without that avenue, car accident victims may struggle to recover full compensation for their damages.
Verifying the At-Fault Party Cannot Pay for Car Accident Damages
Before moving on from pursuing compensation for damages from the at-fault party, you should determine that they cannot pay for the damages they caused. While most people do not have enough assets to pay for the expensive costs of car accident damages, some people might. You could file a car accident claim directly with the at-fault party.
This is a very rare occurrence because people do not have the money to pay tens of thousands of dollars. A car accident lawyer can help you investigate the at-fault party to determine if they have the assets to pay for the damages caused by their negligence. Again, this is extremely rare and likely will not happen. However, you should speak to a car accident lawyer to determine if they feel this is an avenue worth going down.
Car Insurance Can Cover a Percentage of Compensation for Car Accident Damages
The most likely scenario for a car accident victim to recover compensation for damages is through their own auto insurance. A lot of states require drivers to hold personal injury protection insurance that can help compensate them for a percentage of their medical bills and lost wages.
This can help pay for the medical costs of their severe car accident injuries and help keep them on their feet as they take time off work to recover medically. However, it will likely not pay for the full cost of their damages. Drivers can also pay for property damage liability insurance that can help pay for the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle.
Should Drivers Purchase Uninsured Motorist Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage helps to pay for costs after an uninsured motorist causes a car accident. Some states require drivers to have this type of insurance to pay for medical bills and property damages caused by an uninsured car accident. It can also help pay for pain and suffering damages and funeral costs.
Purchasing uninsured motorist coverage can help to protect you from the financial fallout of an uninsured car accident. While it will not provide compensation for the full cost of your damages, it can help to pay for a portion to lessen the financial burden of a catastrophic car accident. Speak to your insurance provider today to determine whether uninsured motorist coverage is worth it for you.
Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer for an Uninsured Motorist Car Accident?
Given that you will likely be unable to file a car accident claim against an uninsured motorist, one might wonder why they need a car accident lawyer. However, it’s still vital to hire a car accident lawyer to help recover compensation for damages. They can help walk you through what insurance you have and what damages that insurance can cover.
An experienced car accident lawyer can also help determine whether the at-fault party has the assets to pay for your damages or if it’s worth filing a claim with your insurance company. The process of recovering compensation after suffering severe car accident injuries can still be long despite the at-fault party not having insurance. An experienced car accident lawyer can help walk you through your options and help during this stressful time.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
The car accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have decades of experience helping victims sort out the legal situation of their case, regardless of whether the other driver had insurance. If you were involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver, we can assist you in finding out ways to pursue compensation for damages.
Our car accident lawyers can contact your insurance company to determine what compensation you can receive for damages. Contact us today for a free uninsured car accident case evaluation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
