If the unfortunate happens and you are in an accident with an uninsured driver and the crash was his fault, don’t lose hope. You may not be left with empty pockets. If you have appropriate coverage within your auto policy, your insurance company will likely pay for any damages to your car and any medical expenses incurred.
If you only have liability coverage, your only option may be to use a lawsuit and the courts to get the other driver to pay. However, keep in mind, if the uninsured driver can’t afford insurance, he likely won’t have enough money to pay a court ordered settlement either.
In California, estimates show as many as 28% of drivers are uninsured. So if an uninsured driver hits you, your best bet is to have sufficient coverage to protect you and your car and to shield you from having to go the route of a lawsuit. At the minimum, protect yourself from costly medical bills by purchasing uninsured motorist coverage.
Finally, make sure you notify the police that the other driver was uninsured. In many states the penalties for driving without insurance range from fines or suspension of license and registration to jail time.
This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
