Just like with your relatives, you don’t get to pick who hits youin an accident, and when trouble arises, it is going to be complicated.
Dealing with a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured drive rcan be as confusing as it is frustrating. An uninsured motorist (UM) is a driver who has no automobile liability insurance whatsoever. An underinsured motorist(UIM) is a driver who does not have enough auto insurance coverage to pay for your accident.
In a typical car accident, you can turn to the insurance company of the bad driver filing a claim or lawsuit in pursuit of compensation. What should you do if you get hit by an uninsured driver?
What can you do when hit by an underinsured driver?
Try to remember these steps after being in an accident with an uninsured or under insured driver:
- Get as much information as you can at the scene of the accident: Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, write down their name and contact information, both on paper and in your smartphone. Many uninsured or underinsured drivers will not want to give you their information or will drive away without talking to you. To anticipate a hit-and-run, write down their license plate number and take a photo of it first, so you have some way to track who was in the accident. Once information is exchanged, take more pictures of the scene overall, including your car and injuries. Gather any other information that could help you prove who was at fault in the accident as well, like the testimony of a friendly eyewitness.
- Call the police: Even if the other driver flees the scene or doesn’t want to get the police involved, this is a crucial step that cannot be ignored. You will want an official report of the crash on record. This will make it easier to prove fault and receive compensation for the accident. You can also help law enforcement officials track down the wrongdoer in case of a hit-and-run. Tell them everything you know about their vehicle, like the direction it was traveling before and after the collision, its color, make and model, and the part of the vehicle that impacted your own.
- Call your own insurance company: Both Nebraska and Iowa require all automobiles to have “uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage” before getting a license plate for your car. This coverage will provide compensation for your medical bills and your injuries if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver that has no money or ability to pay for all your injuries. Unfortunately, this uninsured coverage will not pay for your car.
If you’re left with damages after a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist and have questions about filing a claim with your own car insurance company, Nebraska Justice Law Firmcan provide all the help you need to get through this difficult time. Contact Nebraska Justice Law Firm to schedule a free car accident case evaluation at(402)593-2000.
