A 2015 study published by the Insurance Information Institute revealed that about 14% of Texas motorists were uninsured. It can be a complex case if you get into a car accident where an uninsured motorist is involved. It gets worse if the driver cannot afford to pay for all the expenses. You may have to seek help from a lawyer to assist you in getting the proper compensation.
Anyone who operates a car without the state law’s minimum liability insurance is classified as an uninsured motorist. When such drivers cause accidents that lead to injuries or damages to personal property, it may be difficult to pay for medical and other expenses. Very few uninsured motorists can pay for the damages incurred after a severe accident. As a result, victims may have to personally cover any losses they sustain.
An accident with an uninsured motorist can be complicated; thus, make sure you take the following steps:
In such an accident, the uninsured driver may try to convince you not to report the accident. In some cases, the responsible party may successfully compel you to do so with emotional manipulations. Avoid such talks with the liable party and do not offer any opinion about the car crash.
It’s also worth noting that failure to report the accident can prevent you from getting compensated by your insurance company or another party that may have contributed to the accident. Even worse, it could make it more difficult to prove who caused the accident. Further, you could possibly face legal charges for leaving the accident scene. The only permissible reasons for you to leave a car accident scene before the police assess it are if you need medical care or the accident scene is in a potentially unsafe situation.
In a nutshell, call the police and wait for them to collect vital details about the car accident. The authorities can include contact details for the liable party and other evidence from the accident scene, including who was at fault.
As you wait for the police, evaluate the car wreck to collect as many details as possible to support your claim. For instance, get the following information from the other driver:
Also, remember to get other details regarding the surroundings of auto accident, such as:
It is essential to take such details while still at the scene because you can easily forget some specifics after a few days. If you cannot document them immediately, do it once you are back home. Further, take as many photos as possible of the accident and the surroundings since your insurance company will ask for photo evidence for your claim.
If someone else witnessed the accident, you should also take their contact information. Your lawyer can contact the witness(es) later in case they need more information regarding what happened.
In some cases, you may not feel pain immediately after an accident, making you believe you did not suffer any injuries. Note that your adrenaline can conceal these injuries after a crash and may prevent you from feeling pain until after some hours or days later. Consider seeing a doctor or go to for some health evaluations to determine if you sustained any injuries. If you need treatment, your medical providers will get you the necessary help.
You also need to contact your insurance company after the injuries or damages in a crash with an uninsured driver. Notify your auto insurance and health insurers and be cautious about how you deal with each of them since they have their bottom lines to worry about.
It is also advisable to let your lawyer handle the insurance procedures on your behalf. Our experienced attorneys at Thompson Law know every aspect of the claims process and will assist you in the entire process. Our lawyers will also provide you with all the information you need regarding your insurance policy, including your uninsured motorist coverage (UM), to understand better how the claim works. Better yet, they will ensure that you get the proper pay for your damages.
You can also contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and file a complaint against the uninsured motorist and request a crash suspension, which can lead to their drivers license being suspended. To build a crash case against an uninsured driver, you will need to submit the following documents to DPS:
A car crash can be scary, and it can be worse if it involves an uninsured driver who may be judgment proof. Therefore, always ask for assistance from a car accident attorney to support you through the claim. You can get a lawyer in 15 minutes from Thompson Law to help get the compensation you deserve. Having won over $1.8 billion in compensation for our clients, you can rest assured that we will relentlessly pursue justice for you or your loved one.
After a car accident involving an uninsured motorist, you need an experienced attorney from Thompson Law by your side. No matter how complicated the case may turn out, we will work to get you the right compensation. Call (844) 308-8180 to speak to our bilingual legal team today, or contact us online! Tell us what happened to you and let us do the fighting for your settlement.
Thompson Law, a family-run law firm in Texas, can help you pursue justice. Led by our managing partner Ryan L. Thompson, our personal injury lawyers won 10 of the Top 50 personal injury settlements in Texas in 2020 according to TopVerdict. Throughout the personal injury legal process, we remain loyal and committed to our clients, and you only pay when we win. You can get a free case review from our car accident attorney, and you only pay when you win.
Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.
State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.
