So you were in an accident, and the other driver doesn’t have insurance. What do you do?
Don’t Leave – File an Police Report: Insurance claims require a police report. It’s important you stick around to speak with an officer and provide your statement. He or she can document the incident, which makes filing your claim easier.
Ask the Other Driver for Information: The first thing that you do is take a picture of his license plate before you do anything. Then talk to the other driver. If the driver is uninsured, they will likely avoid or refuse to give you this information. While you wait for the police to arrive, speak with the other driver and share vital information such as: ◦Both of your names, addresses, and phone numbers, which includes the other driver’s name and the owner of the vehicle, if they are separate people
◦Policy number, the name of the insurance company, and the policy holder’s name
◦The model, make, color of the vehicle and the VIN number (if necessary)
Use Your Cell Phone Camera: Look around the scene. See i there is anything that you think might me a value to records the facts. Take detailed photos of the damage to both vehicles, so you have proof of which damages were caused by the accident and which scratches or dents were already there. Identify any witnesses such as people on the sidewalk who stopped when they saw the crash. Ask for their name and phone number and see if they’re willing to stay to speak with the police officer on the scene.
Call Your Insurance Agent: Your may be a little agitated at the scene. There are time constraints for filing your car accident claim, and these are further limited when there’s an uninsured or underinsured driver. The sooner you contact your insurance company, the better your chances of recovering the costs of your injuries and vehicle damages. You will need to have all of your injuries well documented and list your medical expenses.
Some of the car accidents that involve a lack of insurance coverage can lead to pre-trial investigations, access to your medical records, and witness depositions. You may need to file a car accident lawsuit against your insurance company if you’re unable to reach a settlement. Arbitration may be necessary, but the decision made by the third-party arbitrator is often final, leaving little room for appeal.
Robin Nightingale focuses her practice as a personal injury attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.
For more information, visit our website at www.ClearwaterPersonalInjuryAttorney.net
or call (727) 210-8800