Until the day when we live in a world where bubble wrap can effectively protect our vehicles, there will continue to be auto accidents. While most people do their legally-required duty of obtaining at least liability insurance, there are still people on the road without any sort of coverage. In order to safeguard your finances, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from uninsured motorists.
Damage uninsured motorists can do
In a normal auto accident, the parties would exchange insurance information, report the accident to their respective insurers and go about their ways. If you weren’t at fault for the accident, their insurance company pays for the damage to your vehicle and any medical bills you incur. Unless it was a catastrophic accident, life goes on just as it did prior to it.
But this isn’t always the case. Since uninsured motorists don’t have any insurance information to give you, you’re often forced to pay for all the repair and medical expenses out of pocket. If you’re not able to afford it, you may be able to file the claim with your insurance company; although, this can often lead to higher rates in the future.
Before uninsured motorists strike
Being a defensive driver will go a long way towards keeping you safe, but you won’t be able to control the actions of everyone else on the road. The best way to protect yourself against uninsured motorists is to obtain coverage against them from your insurance company. This is often a relatively inexpensive coverage that you can add to your existing auto insurance policy that will pay for your expenses if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have coverage.
When you look into this coverage, remember that uninsured motorists aren’t necessarily the same thing as underinsured motorists. If your insurance company also offers this coverage, it can help bridge the gap between what the other insurance company will pay and your actual expenses if they’re higher.
After an accident with an uninsured motorist
Since many uninsured motorists don’t have insurance because of their financial situation, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to afford the cost of repairing your vehicle. This is especially true when you incur substantial medical bills as a result of the accident. Seeking legal representation after the accident can help ensure that you’re able to collect as much as possible from the at-fault party. Your accident lawyer may also be able to suggest additional avenues for collecting what you’re due that you may not have realized were options.