What Happens if You Get in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver? ?

When you're on the road, it’s natural to assume that if you were to get in an accident, the other driver would have the necessary auto insurance to cover any damages they caused. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. While car insurance is certainly required in all states (exact coverage requirements vary from state to state), not all drivers abide by these laws. Below, we will outline what you should do if you find yourself in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance.

Decide Who Was at Fault 

As is the case with all vehicle accidents, it's important to know who caused the accident. This is sometimes up for debate, and there's no doubt that both parties will apply some of the blame to the other driver in most cases. Sometimes, it’s impossible to know who was most at fault.

At the same time, the fault question is essential in this case because if you are at fault, whether the other driver is uninsured is less of an issue. If you are at fault in the accident, your insurance will need to pay for the damages.

If the other driver was at fault, however, you'll need to get their contact information and insurance information. If they don't have any of the latter, you’ll need to take certain steps to ensure you are made whole again for the damage done to your vehicle and any injuries you or your passengers incurred.

UIM Coverage 

UIM stands for uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist coverage or UIM coverage takes care of you if you find yourself in an accident with an uninsured driver. While it may seem unfair to have to insure yourself doubly, the point is to avoid a catastrophic situation in which you cannot turn to the other driver for damages because they were irresponsible enough to be on the road without insurance.

Filing a Claim Against the Uninsured At-Fault Driver 

The other action you can take is to sue the other driver or work with your insurance company to sue them. Unfortunately, this may not be a winning option as many uninsured drivers do not have many funds to begin with and suing them for damages won’t come get you much.

In the end, the best option for protecting yourself against uninsured drivers is to purchase uninsured motorist auto insurance — a small price to pay for peace of mind.