Can uninsured drivers be held accountable for car accidents?

State law mandates that every motorist have liability insurance. Unfortunately, many people try to get around this requirement by canceling their insurance as soon as their vehicle is registered or by taking other steps to save money. In fact, statistics show that as the economy worsens, the number of people who cancel their insurance policy rises. In 2011, one in seven drivers was uninsured, amounting to 14% of drivers across the nation.

Uninsured drivers share the roads with all other motorists and are just as likely to become involved in car accident as anyone else. But, what happens when a crash was caused by the uninsured motorist-who will pay for the injuries and damages the accident victim suffers?

The general rule is that the insurance of whomever was at fault is required to pay the damages. In states that have no-fault liability laws, each driver and their insurance must pay for that driver’s injuries. This means that an accident victim will be covered for minor injuries, but not major ones. Some motorists even add uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to their insurance, given how common these types of accidents are.

When a driver does not have insurance, it is likely that they do not have a lot of assets either. This can make holding them accountable through a civil suit complicated, but not impossible. Given the heavy financial costs associated with a car accident with a driver with no insurance coverage, consulting an experienced attorney for one’s legal options can be helpful.

Category:

• Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Accidents