Every driver in the state of North Carolina has a legal obligation to carry automobile insurance in order to compensate victims if they cause a car accident resulting in injuries or losses. However, 6.5% of motorists in North Carolina operate motor vehicles without proper insurance coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).
In fact, according to North Carolina General Statutes (GS) §20-279.21, any person that has a registered motor vehicle they intend to drive must have continuous liability coverage provided by an authorized company licensed to do business in the state of North Carolina.
If you suffered injuries or losses resulting from a car accident with a driver who did not have any insurance coverage or did not have enough coverage, learn how a Charlotte uninsured car accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 can help you understand your legal options.
How Uninsured Car Accidents Differ from Insured Car Accidents
When two motorists have a car accident, they typically exchange insurance information in order to have a determination made regarding liability, and then the victim receives compensation for their injuries and losses from the negligent driver’s insurance.
However, if a driver does not have any insurance coverage, and an investigation determines they have liability and responsibility regarding the accident, the motorist may have the ability to sue the person directly for any injuries or losses.
Unfortunately, if a person fails to obtain car insurance coverage, they may simply not have the financial ability to pay for any injuries and losses of a victim as a result of a car accident, leaving the victim without anyone to compensate them for their economic and non-economic damages.
However, if a victim has insurance coverage in the state of North Carolina, they likely also have a portion of their policy that covers them personally if they have an accident with either an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
For a free legal consultation with a uninsured car lawyer serving Charlotte, call (844) 730-0233
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists in North Carolina
Any person that operates a motor vehicle in the state of North Carolina that does not have enough car insurance coverage under the established requirements under the law is an uninsured or underinsured motorist. The coverages required by North Carolina include the following:
- Bodily injury for one person per accident: $30,000
- Bodily injury for two or more people per accident: $60,000
- Property damage per accident: $25,000
These are the minimum amounts under the law that every driver must maintain in order to ensure that they comply with the laws in the state of North Carolina. Failure to do so will not make a driver liable for an accident, but they will receive a citation from a law enforcement officer regarding their lack of insurance coverage as required by law.
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Filing an Uninsured/Underinsured Claim in North Carolina
If you suffered any kind of injuries or losses as a result of a car accident, you should always notify your own insurance company immediately, regardless of fault or whether or not the other motorist carries appropriate insurance coverage.
If the other motorist does not have sufficient insurance coverage, your own policy may cover your losses and compensate you for any injuries or non-economic damages that you suffered. The process to file an uninsured claim in the state of North Carolina will remain similar to that of any other accident, except for the fact that it will remain the responsibility of your own insurance company to reimburse you, rather than the negligent party’s insurance company.
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Negotiating with Your Own Insurance Company
Although you are now dealing with your own insurance company, they might offer you a lower settlement than you deserve. You should consider following similar suggestions when dealing with your own insurance company as you would with a negligent party’s insurance company, including the following:
- Never allow your insurance company access to your full medical records, as they may attempt to locate something from your medical past that would indicate a pre-existing condition that could cause your current injuries instead of the car accident. Only allow insurance companies to have medical records regarding your current injuries and medical treatments related to the car accident.
- Never allow an insurance company to record conversations with you as these can be used against you to offer you a lower settlement amount in the future.
- Never engage in any type of small talk with an insurance company representative as these conversations may be ultimately used against you as well to offer a settlement amount for less than you deserve.
- Never admit liability or responsibility for a car accident.
- Never accept the first settlement offer right away, as these are usually very low offers that they hope a victim will accept in order to resolve the entire case.
- Never allow any stalling or delay tactics to either frustrate you or make you fail to file a claim in a court of law. Some insurance companies use stalling techniques in the hopes that a victim will fail to file a claim under the deadline (statute of limitations) established by the courts.
Learn how an uninsured car accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and ensure your legal rights remain protected.
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Consider How a Charlotte Uninsured Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
You may feel overwhelmed after a car accident, and learning that the other motorist has no insurance coverage can make you feel even more anxious regarding how you will receive compensation for your injuries and losses.
Remember, you may have the right to pursue compensation from your own insurance company if you suffered injuries or losses resulting from a car accident with a driver who did not have any insurance coverage. Consider calling our legal team for a free consultation and learn how a Charlotte uninsured car accident lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 can help you understand all of your legal options.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
