On Texas roads, there are over 2.6 million drivers who are uninsured. This means that over 13% of the drivers around you at any given time are driving without the legally mandated insurance and that could spell trouble for you if you get in an accident with them. When an uninsured driver hits you, the best thing you can do is follow a plan like the following one.
First, make sure everyone is ok. If you or the other driver is injured or if there is major damage to your cars or property around you that is potentially dangerous, call 911 immediately. If it's not an emergency, still call the police. You will need to file a police report about the accident.
The next thing to do after calling the police is to talk with the driver of the other vehicle. In normal circumstances, you would exchange insurance information (this is required by law). If they are uninsured then you should instead collect as much information on them and their vehicle as possible. Make sure you write down their name, address, phone number, license plate number, the year, make and model of their car, their VIN number and also their drivers license number.
While you are still at the scene of the accident use your cell phone to take pictures of the damage to your car, to their car and to any of the damages to surrounding areas. Take as many detailed pictures as possible. You may also want to make notes about where exactly you are, what the weather is like and what time of day it is.
After the accident look around for people who may have witnessed the accident and ask if they would be willing to stay and give a statement to the police when they arrive. It's good to collect at least one witness, more if possible, to the accident so that they can give a report as to what happened and who was at fault.
After you are all squared away and are able to leave the site of the car accident, you should ideally hear from the uninsured driver to work out how they will be able to pay you out of pocket for the damage they caused. If this does not happen and they are unwilling or unable to pay you, you have a few options.
In the short-term you can call your insurance company. If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, it will include a provision for uninsured motorists and after paying your deductible, the insurance company will cover the repairs to your vehicle and any other bills you might have.
The next thing you may consider is taking the uninsured motorist to court and hold them accountable to pay for the damage they caused to your car, property and body. You will need to hire a lawyer and consider the costs. Also be aware that this process may take many months to complete and may cost you some money up front.
All types of car accidents are headaches for any driver, but they can be especially tenuous when the other driver is uninsured. The best thing to do is to be prepared and have a plan to follow in case you are in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
First, make sure everyone is ok. If you or the other driver is injured or if there is major damage to your cars or property around you that is potentially dangerous, call 911 immediately. If it's not an emergency, still call the police. You will need to file a police report about the accident.
The next thing to do after calling the police is to talk with the driver of the other vehicle. In normal circumstances, you would exchange insurance information (this is required by law). If they are uninsured then you should instead collect as much information on them and their vehicle as possible. Make sure you write down their name, address, phone number, license plate number, the year, make and model of their car, their VIN number and also their drivers license number.
While you are still at the scene of the accident use your cell phone to take pictures of the damage to your car, to their car and to any of the damages to surrounding areas. Take as many detailed pictures as possible. You may also want to make notes about where exactly you are, what the weather is like and what time of day it is.
After the accident look around for people who may have witnessed the accident and ask if they would be willing to stay and give a statement to the police when they arrive. It's good to collect at least one witness, more if possible, to the accident so that they can give a report as to what happened and who was at fault.
After you are all squared away and are able to leave the site of the car accident, you should ideally hear from the uninsured driver to work out how they will be able to pay you out of pocket for the damage they caused. If this does not happen and they are unwilling or unable to pay you, you have a few options.
In the short-term you can call your insurance company. If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, it will include a provision for uninsured motorists and after paying your deductible, the insurance company will cover the repairs to your vehicle and any other bills you might have.
The next thing you may consider is taking the uninsured motorist to court and hold them accountable to pay for the damage they caused to your car, property and body. You will need to hire a lawyer and consider the costs. Also be aware that this process may take many months to complete and may cost you some money up front.
All types of car accidents are headaches for any driver, but they can be especially tenuous when the other driver is uninsured. The best thing to do is to be prepared and have a plan to follow in case you are in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
About the Author:
An accident with an uninsured driver can damage both your budget and your Texas auto insurance rate without the right uninsured motorist policy. It is important to review your policy with your auto insurance carrier. If your existing policy does not cover uninsured motorists consider comparing Texas car insurance online to find a better rate or better policy.