If you were in an accident with an uninsured driver, it can be easy to take the first step toward getting compensation by filing a claim. But what happens next? How do insurance companies respond to your claim? How much will it cost me? The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone if you want answers about your accident and how best to proceed. A lawyer can help explain how claims are handled by insurance companies so that you get what you deserve from this traumatic experience.
Uninsured Motorist Cover
Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of insurance that you can add to your policy. It covers you in the event that you are in an accident with someone who does not have insurance, and it is often required by state law. The uninsured motorist coverage is generally optional, meaning if your state doesn’t require it, then it may be cheaper just to purchase liability only coverage instead.
Collision Cover
If you have collision coverage, your own vehicle will get to keep the first $100 of any collision-related damages. This can help protect you against paying for damage that is covered by your own insurance and gives you some peace of mind knowing that if there’s an accident, it won’t cost as much as it would if they weren’t covered.
Suing an Uninsured Driver
The best way to deal with an uninsured driver is to file a lawsuit against the person who caused your accident. You can also sue the insurance company as well. This will allow you to collect damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills associated with your accident.
In most cases, insurance companies do not go after uninsured drivers. This is because it’s difficult to find these people and prove their liability in court. In addition, if an uninsured driver has a clean driving record, there may be no reason for the company to pursue him or her for payment of claims.
Car Is Insured, But Driver Is Not
If the other driver is driving an insured car, their insurance company will pay for your damages. However, if the other driver was not insured and you want to sue them for negligence or damage caused by their uninsured driving, you can still do so.
It can be complicated to try to get compensation from an uninsured driver and you may wish to talk to a personal injury lawyer in Lindsay. The first thing to do when you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver is to find out if you can file a lawsuit. If so, then it’s important that you collect evidence and hire a lawyer. You might also want to get expert witnesses who can testify as experts on insurance law (there are many).
If your claim is successful and the other party has no coverage or only partial coverage, then they will be required by law to pay part of what was owed back to you through their own insurer. The amount that they have paid may not cover all of what was lost due to the accident—so sometimes there may still be some money left over after everything has been settled!