What Happens If You Are Hit By An Uninsured Driver
Brian O Sutter
Traffic Accidents
Getting into a car accident is extremely stressful. Between the property damage, the injuries, and battling the insurance companies, it can be a really nightmare to get your life back on track. This is only further complicated when you find out that the other driver does not have insurance. If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver it can be a huge challenge to receive fair compensation for your damages, which can be especially overwhelming if you are suffering from an injury. So what happens if you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver? What are your options to pursue compensation?After The Accident
No matter if a driver has insurance or not, you still need to follow basic accident protocol to ensure you are protected. First, you need to call emergency services, especially if there have been any injuries, even for the smallest injuries. These can become long term health problems if not taken care of right away. Plus, if you seek medical treatment immediately following an accident, you are more likely to be able to prove that the accident caused your injuries. Then you need to document everything from the scene of the accident to the physical damage on your vehicle to your medical paperwork. Finally, you need to get the other’s driver’s information. Even if they do not have insurance, you need to get their name, address, and phone number. If they are uncooperative, which is often the case with uninsured drivers, you need to get their license plate numbers.
Check Your Insurance Policy
The first thing you need to do after you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver is to check your insurance policy. Most standard automobile insurance policies have uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage makes sure that if you are hit by an uninsured driver, you can still receive compensation for your claim. You may also have physical damage coverage, commonly called “full coverage” insurance that will pay for the repair to any damages to your vehicle regardless of fault.
Furthermore in the state of Florida, all drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP). PIP is a no-fault insurance coverage for medical expenses. So regardless of who caused the accident, the insurance company covering the victim is required to pay for any injuries. If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, you need to read over your policy, you may have enough coverage to compensate your damages.
Can You File A Lawsuit?
Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to automobile accident claims, so filing a lawsuit can be difficult even when it comes to an uninsured driver. However, if your insurance policy is not enough to cover your damages, you may want to consider it. There are a lot of factors that go into a favorable ruling on an uninsured motorist lawsuit, so you will need the guidance of a qualified attorney like the professionals at All Injuries Law Firm. Our lawyers have over 30 years of experience in the Florida area, and we know exactly what qualifications you need to pursue a lawsuit against an uninsured motorist after an accident.
Also in the case of uninsured motorist accidents, insurance companies will give you the runaround. Since they have to pay for all the damages themselves, they may offer you a settlement for less than what your claim is worth. They may even deny your claims. In these cases, you will also need our help. We have years of experience countering the unfair settlement offers from insurance companies to get you the compensation you are owed. So the best thing you can do after being hit by an uninsured motorist is to give us a call for a free consultation to see how we can help make sure that you get the compensation you need to get back on your feet.