It does not matter whether you always follow the speed limit, pay attention to all traffic signs and always follow the rules of the road — it is virtually impossible to avoid reckless drivers. It can be truly disheartening to suffer an injury in an accident that was not your fault, especially when you were driving safely at the time. It is even worse when an uninsured driver caused your accident.
So, what happens when an uninsured driver hits you? That will depend on your own insurance coverage. Having uninsured motorist insurance could be your saving grace.
What are uninsured drivers?
An uninsured driver is someone who does not have any auto insurance coverage. While California state law requires drivers to carry a certain amount of liability coverage, some drivers simply ignore these rules. This does not necessarily mean that you will have to pay for your financial damages out of your own pocket, though.
In some situations, a driver might have insurance coverage, but not enough. In this situation, he or she would be considered an underinsured driver. This means that his or her insurance coverage would not be able to cover your damages.
How does uninsured motorist insurance help?
Uninsured motorist insurance is extra coverage you can elect to purchase. If you did not purchase this coverage when you started your policy, you can still add it on to your coverage later. Uninsured motorist coverage can be essential to your financial security in the following situations:
- When an uninsured driver hits your vehicle.
- When the driver who caused your accident is underinsured.
- You are the victim of a hit and run accident.
Usually, you would make a claim with the other driver’s insurance after being involved in an accident with a reckless driver, but this is not the case when dealing with an uninsured driver. Instead, you would make a claim with your own insurance company. It would then be up to your insurer to properly compensate you for any damages you suffered in the accident.
Having uninsured motorist insurance coverage will help pay for things like car repairs, related medical bills and more. Unfortunately, the insurance company is not always on your side. If an uninsured driver recently caused your accident and you are in need of financial help, you may want to consider carefully reviewing your policy to be sure that you receive everything to which you are entitled in this situation.