Car Accident with Uninsured Driver: What to Do Next

Picture this: you were just in a car accident with another driver, and you find out that they do not carry auto insurance. While almost all states in America require drivers to carry insurance, many people do not.

According to the Insurance Information Institutes latest records, 13 percent of drivers do not have car insurance. What do you do now? If the accident is their fault, who pays for the damages?

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Insured individuals can use uninsured motorist coverage when they find themselves in an accident with an at-fault driver who does not carry auto insurance.

Tennessee law requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist protection clients can reject to purchasing it. While Tennessee does not require insured individuals to carry uninsured motorist coverage, it can be extremely beneficial to have if you are ever in a sticky situation like this.

There are two types of uninsured motorist coverage: bodily injury and property damage. Some states offer both types of coverage in the same package, while others will have you purchase them separately. What do each of the types cover?

• Bodily injury: This type of coverage encompasses an individual’s medical expenses, lost wages as well as any pain and suffering the crash caused.
• Property damage: This type of uninsured motorist coverage covers the cost of fixing the damage to a person’s vehicle or other property that the uninsured driver damaged during the crash.

Getting into an accident with an uninsured motorist can be a headache. However, having uninsured motorist coverage can help make sure you are not paying for the damages out of your own pocket.