Anyone who drives in the United States is required by law to purchase and keep current auto insurance. In case of a car accident, auto insurance policies are used to pay for the damages experienced by the involved parties. Insurance companies sometimes interfere with the process by trying to deny or minimize coverage, but, for the most part, auto insurance is a helpful system for the average driver.
With this said, not everyone in the country follows the law when they drive. Although the estimations vary between studies and different safety groups, it is believed that there are about 30 million uninsured drivers in America. This number equates to roughly 15% of all drivers on the road. If you get into a crash, then there is a greater than one-in-ten chance that the other driver won’t have insurance.
Why Uninsured Motorists are a Hazard to Other Drivers
Uninsured motorists are problematic to other drivers because they put them in an unfair position in a crash, especially in states that do not require personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. After a car accident, most people rely on the insurance of the at-fault driver to kick in and pay for their damages. If the other driver has no insurance at all, then that financial safety net will never deploy. Depending on the details of each person’s financial situation and their injuries, an uninsured motorist accident could cost them tens of thousands of dollars out of their own pocket.
Is There a Way to Get Money After an Uninsured Motorist Accident?
Yes, thankfully, there is a way that you can seek compensation after being hit by an uninsured motorist. If you have purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance coverage from your auto insurance provider, then you can file a claim against your policy after such a crash. UM/UIM insurance claims are paid by your auto insurer, not the one that is covering the other driver, assuming there is one at all.
The trick is that filing a UM/UIM insurance claim pits you against your insurance provider. It could argue that you were liable for the crash to try to avoid paying your coverage. If this happens, then you are want to get the help of a car accident attorney.
For uninsured motorist accident claims in Delaware, locals know they can trust the attorneys of Bifferato Gentilotti LLC. We bring 80+ years of collective legal experience to every case we take. See what we can do for you by contacting us today and requesting a free consultation.
