What happens if you are involved in a car accident with someone who does not have car insurance? The answer to this essential question can be tricky. In most cases, it is very difficult to go after a person without insurance, and it is rarely worth the hassle. Keep reading to learn about why and then discover how you can protect yourself from ever having to deal with this issue.
Winning a Case is Not Enough – You Must Also Be Able to Collect Damages
The main reason that it is often not worth suing a party without insurance is that even if you win the case, you will not be able to collect your damages. If they have significant assets, you might be able to collect on those assets but is more common for a person who does not have insurance to also not have assets. In that case, it can be virtually impossible to actually get the money you are owed.
There is Another Option: Getting Underinsured and Uninsured Coverage
It is true that you do not have any control over whether or not the person that hits you has insurance coverage. However, you do have some control over what happens to you if this occurs. How? By choosing to add underinsured and uninsured coverage. This covers you both if the driver does not have car insurance and if they do have insurance, but it is not enough to cover your damages.
What to Do if You Are Hit by an Uninsured Driver
While it might sound from the above like you have no options if you are hit by an uninsured driver and you do not have uninsured/underinsured coverage, there actually could be another option. Consider if there was someone else that was partially at fault as well. For example, a vehicle might have hit you, but if they did so because a pedestrian jumped out in front of their car and the driver had to swerve, then it is possible the pedestrian could be at fault.
Likewise, if they hit you because their brakes were faulty, then the manufacturer of the brakes might be at fault. These are rare instances, and in most cases you will be out of luck if you are hit by an uninsured driver.
Call Us Today if You Are Injured in an Accident
If you are injured in an accident in which an insured driver was at fault, you can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We can assess the case and advise you on your best options to move forward.
