When someone without car insurance causes an accident that results in your injuries, you may have a couple of options available to you, either through your own insurance or through a personal injury lawsuit. Your options depend upon the extent of your injuries and whether or not you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage as part of your insurance policy.
Whether you carry UM or UIM often depends upon whether your state mandates it as part of your required motorist coverage. Some states, such as New York, require a minimum UM or UIM for all licensed drivers, while others, like Florida, do not. Since we share the roadways with uninsured drivers, it is better to be prepared in case someone hits you and they have no insurance.
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Could Help You
All states mandate that insurers must offer this type of coverage because it may prove vital when drivers experience hit-and-runs or accidents with uninsured drivers. Sometimes, UM/UIM policies even help in cases of uninsured/underinsured motorists and help cover some of the gaps left by the other driver’s policy.
You can review your own auto insurance policy to better assess your standing in the event that an uninsured or underinsured driver negligently or recklessly causes a collision with you on the road.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-598-7557
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Versus Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
Some states require motorists to carry some form of personal injury protection (PIP) in the event of an accident. This policy may extend coverage for some of your medical expenses and lost wages following a car accident regardless of who caused the accident, but the amount you receive may not go very far in helping you financially.
With severe injuries that result in ongoing medical care and longer periods of missed work, you have a right to seek supplemental compensation from an at-fault party who caused the accident through their insurer.
Uninsured motorist coverage helps alleviate that financial burden if the at-fault party does not carry any auto insurance. Coverage amounts for uninsured motorists may have higher amounts than PIP offers. Depending on the state you live in, you may have to carry both PIP and UM/UIM. In states that do not require UM or UIM, insurers usually make it available in your policy for your added peace of mind.
Severe Injuries Following Car Accidents
Even if you live in a state that does not require UM or UIM and you do not have UIM or UM coverage, the extent of your injuries may qualify you to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your economic and noneconomic losses.
These kinds of lawsuits require that you prove the other driver’s negligence by showing they breached a duty of care, caused the accident through this breach and that your resulting injuries caused you severe financial strain. If you suffer severe injuries in a car accident, a personal injury claim or may also allow you to collect compensation for noneconomic losses, like pain and suffering, as well.
Severe injuries that are common in car accidents include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Limb amputations
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
Any medical bills you have for your treatments for these injuries count as economic losses. A car accident attorney can calculate your economic losses and determine how much compensation you should seek from either the uninsured driver who hit you. Our lawyers can also establish the value of noneconomic losses, like pain and suffering, and add this to the total you are trying to collect from the liable party.
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How a Lawyer Can Help You Make Your Case
Your injuries and other calculable losses can help you prove your case. You may use police reports and investigations from insurance adjusters as well as other evidence, such as photos, eyewitness statements, and video footage, if available.
This may serve as evidence to prove negligence on the part of the other driver, and a lawyer may conduct additional investigations after the accident if you seek legal representation. Having a car accident lawyer to guide you through this process may help you collect the necessary evidence you need to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver.
Other Ways Our Lawyer Can Help You
Your lawyer with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can handle all communications with uninsured parties and their legal representatives on your behalf. They can also represent you at all meetings, handle important case paperwork, and file your lawsuit within the state statute of limitations. They can answer your questions, update you on any changes to your case, and explain any complex laws that may apply.
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Let Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Handle Your Car Accident Case
Our team of car accident lawyers with Ben Crump Law, PLLC, wants to help accident victims receive the compensation they deserve when they suffer from someone else’s negligence on the road.
If you suffered injuries in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence or recklessness, but they lack auto insurance, and your policy does not cover uninsured motorists, we may help you build a personal injury lawsuit.
Statutes of Limitations Deadlines
Our dedicated lawyers can review your car accident case for free to help you determine your legal options. Statutes of limitations apply in many states for personal injury cases, so the sooner you call us, the sooner we may begin working on building you a compelling case. If you wait too long from the date of the accident to file a suit, you may lose your opportunity to take any legal action at all.
Call Us for a Free Consultation Today
We work on a contingency fee basis, so we collect payment only if we secure financial compensation in your favor.
For your free, no-obligation case evaluation, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (800) 598-7557 to speak with a team member today. We can answer any questions you have as you consider your next steps.
Call or text 800-598-7557 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
