What To Do When You Are Hit By An Underinsured Negligent Driver
by Susie Torres
In a perfect world, no one would ever get in a car accident. In a nearly perfect world, if you did get in an accident, everyone would have the proper coverage to pursue a perfect resolution to the accident. In the real world, some drivers don't have a large enough policy to cover all of the damages you sustained, and some drivers don't have insurance at all. When you get in an accident with an underinsured driver, the route to pursuing your claim gets a little more complicated.
The Uninsured Driver
Not everyone can afford car insurance, and some people decide to drive without insurance. When you get in an accident with such a driver, you cannot make a claim against their insurance company, nor should you sue them. Suing someone who has no money is not a way to recoup your losses. To protect yourself against such cases, you need to add uninsured driver insurance to your policy. You can then make a claim against your own insurance company to cover your losses when you get in an accident with someone who has no insurance.
The Underinsured Driver
Just because the negligent driver in an accident has insurance does not mean that their policy will cover all of your potential losses. For example, if you have serious medical trauma, the bills can pile up. Once you combine your medical bills with loss of wages and pain and suffering, your damages might well exceed the other driver's policy. This is where having underinsured driver insurance can be helpful.
For example, if the negligent driver has a $100,000 policy, and you have $150,000 in damages, then you will be on the hook for $50,000 to cover injuries and damages that stem from someone else's negligence. If you have a $100,000 underinsured driver policy on your insurance, then you can make a claim against your own company for $50,000 to cover the rest of your losses.
When you have to make an insurance claim, it is important to remember that you cannot make a claim for more than the negligent driver's policy or your own policy allows. Because most everyone tries to save money when choosing their insurance policy, you might well be faced with a situation where the other driver in an accident does not have a large enough policy to cover the resulting damages. Luckily, uninsured and underinsured driver insurance is much cheaper than a regular policy, so adding such insurance to your policy should not break your budget.
For more information, talk to an attorney like Edward M Graves III.
Share
About Me
After you are involved in a serious car accident, you might feel confused about what to do next. In order to feel like yourself again, you might be tempted to try to go about your daily activities, only to come across loads of challenges. In addition to focusing on your own recovery, you might also be left wondering what to do about medical bills, pushy insurance adjusters, and annoying family members. However, the right lawyer can help you to find your way. My name is Dan, and I know firsthand how difficult it can be to recover from a bad injury. Read my website to learn how proper legal representation can simplify your journey.