Accidents related to motor vehicles are common in the United States. The National Safety Council (NSC) recorded more than 44,400 deaths related to motor vehicle accidents in 2023.
Florida law requires drivers to have insurance coverage for at least Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability. But not all drivers follow this rule. A study conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) in 2021 cited that about 12.6% of motorists in the US are uninsured. This could make things complicated if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Getting compensation from your insurance
If you get into a car accident where the other driver does not have insurance coverage, you could get compensation from your insurance instead. Some insurance policies cover the damage you incur when the other driver is not insured or has insufficient coverage. Having Uninsured Motorist Coverage on top of the State-required insurance coverage would be helpful in situations like this. However, you must prove that you are not at fault for the collision. There are also documents needed for your insurance claim, such as medical records, police report, evidence relating to the accident and proof that the other driver is uninsured.
Sadly, getting compensation through your insurance company could pose challenges, whether you are at fault or not. There are insurance companies that will try to deny your claims. Getting compensated through your Uninsured Motorist Coverage could be even more challenging.
Getting compensation from the at-fault driver
You could pursue a claim from the at-fault diver through a lawsuit. As they are uninsured, they will have to compensate you from their own pocket. At times, the driver without insurance could not have enough assets to provide you with ample compensation. The court may provide steps to help you get the compensation you deserve, but this could take a long time. Sometimes, you may not even get it at all. The assistance of a personal injury lawyer would benefit you in this battle.