What to do if You Get in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
Whether you are driving on I-20, I-77 or headed downtown on I-26, a single moment can change your life. Even if it is not your fault, a car accident can leave you with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and a totaled vehicle.
But what do you do if you are in an auto or motorcycle accident and the one at fault is an uninsured driver?
Many of the very worst drivers on the road either don’t have insurance or do not carry enough to pay for the damages and injuries they cause.
Don’t give up.
What many people do not realize is that their own insurance policy may cover what the policy of an uninsured driver does not.
What is the Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured?
A person who drives and causes an accident and does not have any auto insurance is uninsured driver. A person who has insurance but does not have enough coverage to pay for injuries that result from your accident is considered underinsured.
How Can I Protect myself against Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists?
Talk to your South Carolina car insurance company agent to discuss purchasing uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
You want to purchase coverage in the event that you are injured in an auto accident, and the at-fault driver is not insured and/or has insufficient coverage to compensate you for your injuries.
This may be true even if you do not have comprehensive or collision insurance. The auto accident attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC have handled numerous personal injury and property damages cases and we are familiar with insurance policies. We can weed through their legal verbiage, which can go a long way towards helping you recover.
What are the minimum insurance requirements in South Carolina?
25/50/25
The first two numbers apply to bodily injury. The last number applies to property damage. What this means is that if one person is injured as a result of an accident and it is your fault, your policy limits are $25,000.00. If more than one person is injured as a result of an accident at it is your fault, the policy limit is $50,000.00. If more than two people are injured, the policy limit is still $50,000.00 and any possible recovery will be distributed based upon who goes after the money first. Of course, the amount that will be distributed depends upon the facts specific to your case.
In the event that you get into an accident and it is your fault, your insurance company will pay up to $25,000.00 in property damage to the other driver.
In the unfortunate event that you are in an accident, your are found to be at fault, and the coverage that you have is insufficient to cover the injuries to the other party, you can be held personally liable.
If you or a loved one have been injured as the result of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, call the South Carolina automobile accident attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC, at 803-252-4800 for a free consultation.
