Auto accidents are unfortunate as they are, but they can be worse if the person that caused such an accident is an underinsured or uninsured driver.

Several states across the country require liability insurance for each vehicle owner. However, it is not uncommon for owners to cancel their insurance policy, especially with the increasing rates of expenses to pay. According to a survey conducted by the Insurance Research Council, nearly one in every eight driver is uninsured. Hence, it is important to know how to properly deal with a car accident involving an underinsured or uninsured driver. Read further to learn more about dealing with underinsured or uninsured drivers.

Understanding Insurance laws

Insurance laws vary from state to state. Traditional insurance law provides that the insurance of the person at fault in the accident shall pay for the expenses in accordance with the coverage of the policy. This means that if you were at fault in the accident, your insurance will pay for all the expenses, however when the driver is at fault and he is either underinsured or uninsured, then it will cause problems for you.

However, there are some stated that do not use a driver’s fault as a basis for an insurance claim. This means that each insurance company will cover the expenses of a driver who has experienced an accident regardless if he was at fault or not.

It is important to check the insurance laws of your state in pursuing a legal action against the underinsured or uninsured driver.

Contact the Police

As with any accident, it is important to contact the police immediately. The police will be responsible for creating a police report of the incident. This police record will be helpful for you later on if you should pursue a claims case. Remember to provide your contact details to the police should they later need to ask you some questions, and acquire the name and contact number of the said police.

Gather information

When involved in an accident it is important to gather as soon as possible the following necessary information:

• The name of the driver which hit your car, his contact number and address
• The plate number of his car as well as the number of his driver’s license
• The name and contact number of any of the witnesses to the crime

If possible, take pictures of the crime scene as this may serve as evidence when needed. Usually, the police will be responsible for taking note of this important information, but it is good to have a copy of your own.

Talk to your insurer

Contact your insurance company immediately after the accident and review the terms and benefits of your insurance coverage. You must contact them immediately as some insurance contracts provide notification deadlines to claim insurance benefits. Most insurance plans offer a wide range of benefits including accidents involving underinsured or uninsured drivers, which could help cover your medical expenses and repairs for you damaged property.

Hire a lawyer

In most cases, you might find it difficult to process your claim on your own. One of the best investments in making sure that your rights remain protected and that you can get the best out of the situation is by hiring an experienced and competent car accident lawyer.

Conclusion

One of the things that can make an auto-accident worse is if you have to shoulder the damages of the accident from your own pocket. Dealing with insurance companies can be tedious and difficult if done on your own. It is important to gather as much information as you can and you can click here to look and hire a competent lawyer to represent your case and help make the best out of such an unfortunate situation.

Pauline Griggs
Pauline Griggs is an experienced law and automotive writer currently writing on another large project. Her know-how on the law for more than 10 years has allowed her to insert nuggets of useful wisdom for her readers. Pauline is not just a lawyer, she is also an artist. She loves painting nature when she has free time.