Law

What Should You Do If You Were An Uninsured Driver In A Car Accident? 

Auto insurance is mandatory in most states. It protects you from extreme financial losses in case you are involved in a car accident that leads to damages to your health and vehicle. Your own insurance protects if you were at fault by compensating the other driver to reach a settlement. 

Suppose you have an accident and you do not have liability insurance to cover costs. In that case, you need to contact a car accident attorney to know what are suitable measures to take to make your situation favorable. An Idaho car accident attorney has the knowledge regarding accident laws pertaining to the area and can guide you to the best of their capabilities. 

If you were the driver at fault in the accident. 

When you are the driver that caused the accident by driving in an unsafe manner or in an intoxicated state, you are held liable to pay for the damages suffered by the other driver. These damages include monetary losses such as personal injuries, repairing their vehicle, and the income they lost while recovering, along with non-economic damages they suffered such as trauma in the form of flashbacks and nightmares, anxiety, and depression. 

The victim is offered “Uninsured motorist coverage” and “Uninsured motorist property damage coverage” if their policy includes them. However, these are not usually sufficient to compensate for the losses, and the driver can hold you personally liable to reimburse them by suing you in court. Along with this, you will also be held accountable for driving without auto insurance coverage of your own. 

If you were not at fault in the accident. 

When the other driver was negligent while driving, you can file a claim for compensation from their insurance company. Evidence collected by your car accident attorney helps prove that you were the victim, and a total estimate of your damages is calculated. However, the value of the settlement might be deducted since it is illegal to drive without an auto insurance policy. In Idaho, your insurance must cover at least bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. 

Depending on the accident, the consequences of driving without one might be suspension of your license, fines, and even jail time. Having your own auto insurance is extremely beneficial and could help cover the costs of your damages when the compensation provided by the other driver is insufficient. 

Jonathan Kim
the authorJonathan Kim
Jonathan Kim is the SEO marketing specialist at Trumpia, the most complete SMS solution including mobile engagement, toll-free messaging, Smart Targeting, and advanced Automation.