Car accidents happen all the time. When it happens, you can at least take some comfort in relying on car insurance that both you and the other driver carry to cover your medical expenses and repairs to your vehicle right? But what happens when you get into an accident with drivers who don’t have car insurance? When that happens, you have to do things a little differently since they cannot pay for your damages through insurance. Here is how to deal with uninsured motorists.
Call Police to the Scene
The first thing you should do after any car accident is to call and request that police come to the scene. If there appear to be injuries you should dial 911 for emergency services. Keep in mind that doing this is even more important when you are involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance. Once police arrive, you can make a report of the incident, which can help you later when you file a claim to get your medical expenses and vehicle damage covered.
You should take pictures of the scene itself, including the road and any skid marks, the damage of your vehicle, the location and other pertinent details of the accident scene.
Exchange Information
Even though the other driver lacks auto insurance and the police will get his or her driver’s information, it’s important that you get that information as well. In many instances, this may be the time when you learn that the other driver doesn’t have any insurance. Get all the details you can, including the driver and their vehicle and try to get contact information from any witnesses as well, if there are any. The police at the scene may collect and share the drivers’ contact and insurance information with everyone involved. Often this is done to avoid confrontation or conflict with the involved drivers.
Contact Your Insurance Company After Talking to an Attorney
After the accident, you should contact an attorney before you contact your insurance company. It’s the insurance company’s job to attempt to deny claims, and pay as little as possible. You will want to work with an attorney who can talk with your insurance adjuster to get you the most benefit from a claim. What exactly your insurer will be able to do depends on certain factors, such as how much damage your vehicle sustained and the specific details of your insurance policy. If you have uninsured motorist protection, your insurance policy may greatly help after an attorney helps you make your claim.
Seek Medical Attention
It is extremely important to seek medical attention after being involved in a car accident. Even if you feel completely fine immediately after the accident, you may have some internal injuries you cannot see or may feel pain a few days later. Of course, you will have to pay for your medical expenses yourself if the other driver is uninsured. However, if you have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage with your auto insurance, you may receive help in paying for your medical bills and lost wages through your insurer. Getting your medical bills covered as much as possible will likely require the assistance of an attorney.
Get Car Repairs
If your car has gotten damaged, your insurance company may cover the costs of having repairs done. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you will likely be able to rely on your insurer to cover the expenses for the repairs.
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