It is common knowledge that after you are involved in an auto accident, you are supposed to exchange personal information and insurance information with everyone involved in the accident. However, what do you do if one of the drivers involved in the accident doesn't have insurance?
#1 Make Sure You Get As Much Information As You Can
Even if the other motorist involved in the accident does not have insurance information, it is still important that you collect as much identifying information as possible.
Make sure you collect all the information listed below:
- Full Legal Name
- Cell & Home Phone Number
- Email Address
- Home Address
- Driver's License Number
- Vehicle Make & Model
- Vehicle License Plate
- Vehicle Identification Number
You will need to provide your insurance company with this information and will need this information if you decide to pursue a civil suit.
#2 Let Your Insurance Company Know Right Away What Is Going On
The next thing you need to do is let your insurance company know right away that you have been in an accident with an uninsured driver. Provide them with all the contact information you gathered from the other driver. Your insurance company will use this information to try and contact the driver and confirm that they do not, in fact, have insurance.
It is vital that you tell your insurance company that you suspect the other driver involved in the accident does not have insurance, because many insurance companies have strict time-limits under which you are required to provide this information.
If you provide your insurance company with this information within their set time-limit, you can pursue compensation from your insurance company through your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage option. However, if your insurance company finds that you failed to provide them with this information in a reasonable time-frame, and they determine the other driver was at-fault for the accident, you may end-up not receiving any financial compensation from your insurance company.
#3 Call A Car Accident Attorney
In order to protect your interests, after you contact your insurance company and let them know that you believe you were involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you need to call a car accident attorney.
A car accident attorney can work with your insurance company to ensure that they use your uninsured motorist coverage to provide you with financial compensation. Your attorney can also ensure that this accident is properly filed by your insurance company as an uninsured motorist claim where the uninsured motorist is at fault. If your insurance company files it as your fault and uses your general insurance coverage to provide you with financial compensation, you could face higher insurance rates down the road. By having an attorney work with your insurance company, they can make sure that this mistake does not happen.
If your injuries exceed the limits of your uninsured motorist coverage, an attorney can help you collect the evidence you will need to file a civil suit for damages against the other driver.
Just because you were in an accident with an uninsured motorist does not mean you will have to pay for the damages to your vehicle and your person. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company will be able to provide you with financial compensation. An attorney can work with you to make sure that you receive a fair level of compensation from your insurance company, and can even help you pursue a civil suit against the uninsured motorist if the financial compensation provided by your insurance company does not cover you needs.
To learn more, contact a professional like William D. Hochberg for help.
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