Even though the law requires a minimum amount of car liability insurance in almost every state, there are still uninsured drivers on the road. In fact, according to the Insurance Research Council, about 1 in 8 drivers is uninsured. And even if you’re a law-abiding driver, you’re still vulnerable to accidents involving uninsured drivers.
We’ve outlined how to handle accidents with uninsured drivers and best practices for filing an insurance claim—giving you the confidence and knowledge to take the right steps in case of the unexpected.
Dos and Don’ts After Being Hit by an Uninsured Driver
Let’s say you’re sitting at a traffic light patiently waiting for the green light when you’re suddenly rear-ended, causing severe whiplash and likely some damage to your car. After pulling over to the side of the road, you get out to assess your vehicle and speak with the driver who hit you.
The back of your car is wrecked, and you have a feeling you’ll need to see a doctor for your sore neck. The at-fault driver seems scared, and when you ask for their insurance details, they tell you they don’t have any.
It’s a shame, but as an experienced driver, you know to follow these tips on what to do if you have an accident with an uninsured driver:
Call the police
If you’re in a car accident, regardless of whether the other person has insurance or not, it’s always a good idea to call the police. But if it’s an uninsured driver, calling the police is even more important, as their report will help cover your expenses and make the claims process easier.
Don’t accept money
Since the other driver doesn’t have insurance, they could face hefty fines and fees, which means they might try to offer you money to avoid legal repercussions. At this point, you have no idea how much your damages will amount to, so even if it seems like a good deal, don’t accept any money.
Exchange Information
They probably won’t have any insurance information to give you, but you’ll still want to get their contact details and vehicle information. Don’t forget to ask for the contact information of any witnesses, as their statements can also be helpful during the claims process.
Gather the Details
Get the make and model of the vehicle involved, the time and location of the accident, and the name and badge number of the responding officer. Write down all the relevant details that you think might help you when working with your insurance company.
Take Photos
You’ll want to capture the damage to your car and the other vehicle, the other driver’s license plate, traffic signs, and the direction of travel for each vehicle. These are all important details that will be useful when filing a claim.
Insurance Claims Against Uninsured Drivers
Now that you have all the information you need, you should contact your insurance company to report the accident. Be sure to mention that you were hit by an uninsured driver, as this will affect the entire process.
This is where all the information you gathered earlier will come in handy. Have the following ready when you call to file a claim:
Have your insurance card handy: you’ll need your policy number.
You’ll be asked for the date, time, and location of the accident.
Remember all the details you wrote down and the photos you took? Good. You’ll be asked for a detailed report of how the accident happened, so have those ready to make your report as descriptive as possible.
Normally, the claims representative will ask for the other driver’s insurance information, but since there isn’t any, you can provide the contact information the at-fault driver gave you.
If you called the police, you’ll need to provide the name of the police department involved and the police report number.
Remember that at Leggall we are your helping hand in these cases, do not hesitate to contact us at 1-888-534-4255 to facilitate this entire process for you.