What Happens If I Was In An Accident With An Uninsured Driver?
Car accidents are very common on Alabama roads. Fortunately, most are minor fender benders. However, when a car accident happens, it can be a frustrating and stressful experience for all parties concerned especially if there is an uninsured Driver. In most cases, the driver who is at fault already has valid insurance, and the insurance company offers sufficient coverage so that the other party can be compensated for their loss.
Alabama is an ‘at-fault’ state when it comes to car accidents and insurance coverage. This means that the driver(s) who is at fault will be deemed responsible for any damages and compensation. In Alabama, all car owners are required to carry liability insurance. The exact number of people who still drive without insurance is not known, but it is believed that the numbers are quite high. The question is: what happens if you get into a motor vehicle accident and the other driver has no insurance? Who pays for the damages in such a situation?
In the past, drivers who had an accident caused by a driver with no insurance had several options. They could either pay for the damage themselves or take the other driver to court. But if you think logically, someone who is driving around without insurance will most likely not have the funds to pay for your damages. The third option could be that you turn to your own insurance company. But most of the time, insurance companies also find a way to get away with not paying damages by taking out loopholes and using them against you.
So what are your options?
If you were in a car accident and the other driver did not have insurance, the first thing you need to do, after reporting the accident to the police and getting yourselves checked out by a medical doctor, is to contact a car accident lawyer. Car accident attorneys can help you understand the best way to proceed based on the type of accident, the extent of damage, and the percentage of fault of all drivers involved. Based on this, your car accident lawyer can assist with filing a claim either with the other driver’s insurance company or your own. If both these options are not feasible, you may have to sue the driver. However, for all of these measures, you need the services of a good car accident attorney.
How can all this be avoided?
One of the best ways to avoid the hassles of a car accident with an uninsured driver is to ensure that your car insurance policy includes coverage for uninsured drivers. Many drivers think that they will never get involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver and thus omit to check this box when applying for a car insurance policy. But this can be a mistake. Most insurance companies offer uninsured insurance coverage at a reasonable cost. Once you check this box, you pay a small amount over your regular insurance premium, but it can help you avoid hassles if the other driver has no insurance. Having coverage for uninsured drivers can make your life much easier because suing in such situations rarely works out for anyone.
It is a waste of time and resources and no guarantee of a positive outcome. Talk to a car accident attorney or more information in this regard if you have been injured in a car accident with an uninsured driver and need to file a claim to meet up the expenses that you have incurred because of the accident. Getting uninsured coverage is a sensible idea for all parties concerned. Keep in mind that the driver who gets in a car accident and who has been on the road without valid insurance is automatically in trouble anyway since its illegal to drive without insurance.
If you have been involved in a car accident in Birmingham, AL, and if the other driver is uninsured, don’t panic. Don’t think that you cannot get compensation at all since the other driver does not have any money. Your car accident attorney is the best person to advise you in this regard. Call our car accident lawyer at Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton LLP. Our car accident attorneys know how to deal with cases that involve uninsured drivers. They will give you the best advice depending on the specifics of your case and the level of fault. Call our highly-recommended personal injury law firm today so that they can help you deal with drivers.