All posts tagged auto accident tips

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with an accident you did not cause. The one thing worse than dealing with a wreck on the roadside is finding out the other motorist has no insurance. Here are three primary steps below to take if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver at fault.

Step 1: Exchange Information with the Other Motorist and All Witnesses

Calling the police to arrive at the scene is protocol, and the police will get the other driver’s information, but you need to have it too. This is the when you will learn that you have just been hit by an uninsured driver. Get as much information about the driver as you can, and write down everything about the other vehicle as the plate number, notes about damages to their vehicle and take a few pictures.

Most importantly at this stage, if there are witnesses, get their info too because it will officially be a criminal case. Driving without financial responsibility is a crime and it can get you into serious trouble. It will also depend on the severity of the accident that you have been involved in as well.

Step 2: Contact and Inform Your Insurer You Had an Accident With an Uninsured Driver

Your insurance company will not be happy to hear about the situation, but depending on your personal circumstances, there are things they will have to do for you. Hopefully, you have an uninsured protection plan for property damage and personal injury because you have paid for your insurance company’s protection no matter the circumstances. In the event you do not have this as part of your personal, then your agent will have to guide you through the next steps.

The other driver will have a difficult time. The court will likely force them to obtain special insurance to clear their license, and they will have to file for SR-22 insurance through the state or find a credible insurance company that offers SR-22 like the Great Northern Insurance Agency.

Step 3: Meet With Your Insurer and Get Your Car Taken Care Of

You are going to need to sit down face to face with your agent and get into the details about repairing your vehicle. The uninsured motorist protection plan should take care of most or all of the repairs as if the other driver had insurance and was fully covered. If you do not have this extensive protection, you will not have the coverage needed to fix your vehicle, and hopefully, the damage would be mostly cosmetic leaving a running vehicle for you. If not, then there is only one other avenue to recuperate your losses. You have to go to court.

You will be angry having to deal with all of this, but it is good to know there are options. Having special insurance is the best preemptive route, but you may have to aggressively recuperate funds by suing. Hopefully, they have something worthwhile to get to improve your situation. Just remember the steps above in the event of you collide with a financially irresponsible driver.