Since 1 in 8 drivers drive daily without auto insurance, there’s a good chance you’ll run into them one day. Or worse, they’ll run into you. Accidents are a pain, but uninsured motorist accidents are the worst. Let’s discuss what to do if you find yourself in an accident with an uninsured motorist.
Uninsured Motorist Accidents: What To Do
Inform the Police
Getting the police to arrive at the scene will help in a big way when dealing with uninsured motorist accidents. Police reports will help when trying to get expenses paid for and will help the claims process go a lot smoother.
Get their Information
Getting the information from the other motorist will help in the long run. Vehicle information, license plate numbers, and other details about the car will help when you are making claims. Uninsured motorist accidents don’t follow the simple “insurance swap” that other basic accidents have.
Take Pictures
By taking pictures at the scene, you are helping yourself when it comes to filing a claim with insurance. Take pictures of everything! Uninsured motorist accidents are difficult to gain compensation for. The pictures will help. Some things to remember to take pictures of are: both vehicles and the damage, license plates, roadways and roadsigns, and surrounding environment for future reference.
Don’t Accept Money
Accepting money in uninsured motorists accidents is an attempt to avoid legal involvement. By doing so, you are allowing this individual to get away with going without insurance. At this moment, you have no idea exactly what kind of damage is done to your car or to you! It is best to just wait, even if you think the amount they offer is fair.
Get the Details
The pictures and the police report will give a lot of details for your claim, but keep a note of the time of day, the weather conditions, and any other details you can. Then, when making a claim or getting legal involvement, you will be able to paint a clear picture of what happened. Uninsured motorist accidents happen everywhere, knowing the details will help you and your case.