Hit By An Uninsured Driver? Your Case Isn't Hopeless

With rising housing costs and general inflation, a lot of people are having to prioritize their bills in order to stay financially afloat. Unfortunately, some of them choose to let their car insurance slide, essentially taking a gamble that they won't be in an accident until they can afford the payments again.

That's bad news for you, however, if you happen to fall victim to their negligent driving habits. Most of the time, people respond to the news that the driver that caused their accident lacks insurance by simply assuming that no financial compensation is available for their losses.

That may not be true. Here are a few things you should know:

1. Your insurance company may have to pay.

Depending on the laws of your state and your insurance policy's coverage, your insurance company may have to cover your losses and pay your medical bills if you were injured in an accident with an uninsured driver. 

Typically, you shouldn't expect your insurer to remind you that you have that option. If you do bring it up, it's likely that the insurance company will try to minimize your injuries and offer you the lowest settlement possible -- unless you have legal help to protect your rights.

2. There may be other liable parties.

Car accidents aren't always as straightforward as they seem. For example, imagine that the uninsured driver experienced a sudden failure of his power steering system. That led to the wreck that injured you. Sure, the driver failed to control his vehicle, but the system failure could be the result of a factory defect in the vehicle itself or a poorly done job by a mechanic. That opens the door to a lawsuit against those individuals for your damages as well.

3. The other driver may be able to pay.

If someone can't afford car insurance, how can they pay for your injuries? Well, in some cases, you may be able to collect through a judgment and wage garnishment. If the other driver owns a business or has a home, you may also be able to place a lien on those things until the judgment is paid.

If you were hit by an uninsured driver, that makes your case a little more complicated. The smartest thing to do is to contact a personal injury attorney right away so that you don't miss any deadlines with your own insurance company or find yourself shut out of other avenues of redress.