What to Do if You’re Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Alabama

Perhaps you’re driving down the road when a car runs a stop sign and hits you. Or maybe you’re waiting at a stop light and you’re rear-ended. Unfortunately, you quickly find out when you go to exchange insurance information that the other driver has no car insurance. Accident liability insurance is required in every state, including Alabama, but as you’ve just found out, that doesn’t mean that every driver follows the law. Here’s what to do if you’re hit by an uninsured driver in Alabama.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, recovering compensation can be challenging — but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

What to Do if You’re Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Alabama: Next Steps

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, here are some things to do and not do at the accident scene:

Do Call the Police

In any car accident situation, it’s important to call the police. It’s especially important when the other driver doesn’t have insurance. Having a police report can help smooth the process when you file a claim with your insurance company under your uninsured motorist policy or if you decide to file a legal claim against the uninsured driver.

Do Exchange Information

Be sure to get contact information from the other driver. This should include their name, address, and telephone number. Also, get their driver’s license number and license plate number.

Do Get Witness Statements

If there were witnesses to the accident, ask them for written or recorded statements. If it isn’t practical to get statements at the accident scene, ask for their contact information so you can reach out for statements later. Then do so as soon as possible.

Do Take Pictures and Jot Down Accident Details

Take photos of the damage done to the cars, any debris in the street, and the street signs to show where the accident occurred and the direction the vehicles were traveling in. Also, be sure to write down things like the make and model of the other driver’s car if it isn’t clear in the photos.

Don’t Accept Money From the Uninsured Driver

An Alabama driver with no insurance probably knows they face a big fine or potentially even impoundment of their car or suspension of their driver’s license. They may try to make you go away by offering you money. At this point, you have no way of knowing what your damages are worth, and they may very likely be worth much more than the driver offers, Therefore, it’s not advisable to accept money. In such instances, consulting with a truck accident attorney in Mobile, AL, is essential. A skilled attorney can guide you through the process, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your damages.

Visit a Doctor

Protect Your Health and Your Chances of Receiving Compensation

Even if you feel fine and don’t think you were injured, you should still visit a doctor. Sometimes whiplash and other injuries may not show up until later. Or you may have soft tissue damage, internal bleeding, or other serious injuries that you don’t know about. Your medical records will be a vital part of your insurance claim, and if you decide to file a car accident lawsuit, they’ll be indispensable as well.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, the team at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC is here for you. Call us at (251) 444-7000 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation now.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible following the accident. Let the company know right away that the other driver was uninsured. When you call, have your file of information in front of you that contains the police report, the uninsured driver’s information, witness statements, your doctor’s report, and anything else related to the accident.

Consider Consulting an Attorney

Now that you know what to do if you’re hit by an uninsured driver, consider speaking with a car accident attorney who can further help you understand your rights. If you’ve been seriously injured or suffered extensive property damage, your insurance may not cover all of your medical and other bills.

How Do You Recover Compensation if the Driver Who Hit You Was Uninsured?

Ordinarily, if you’re injured in a car accident another driver causes, any compensation you receive comes from the other driver’s liability insurance. Alabama requires drivers to have a certain amount of liability insurance:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident.

Unfortunately, some drivers do not carry the required coverage. If the driver who hit you is uninsured, the best way to recover compensation is typically through your own uninsured motorist insurance coverage. A car accident attorney can help you file a claim with your insurance company, but the fact that you’re filing a claim with your own insurance company doesn’t mean the insurer will be eager to pay up. Your lawyer can assemble evidence of your injuries and negotiate with the insurance company in an attempt to reach a fair settlement.

What if You Don’t Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

You May Still Have Options

All insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage when they offer you insurance coverage. However, when you purchase a policy, you may opt out of this coverage if you wish.

If you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, recovering compensation may prove to be a challenge. You may file a lawsuit against the driver, but, generally, drivers without insurance don’t have it because they can’t afford it. Even if the court orders the driver to pay you a particular amount of money, there’s a possibility that you’ll never see any of it.

Have You Been Hurt in a Car Accident?

If you’ve been injured by an uninsured driver and don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, don’t automatically assume you’ve reached a dead end. When you take the right steps after the crash and reach out to a car accident attorney, you can maximize your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.

The seasoned car accident attorneys at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, PC on Alabama’s Gulf Coast are here to answer any questions you may have. Call us at (251) 444-7000 or get in touch online to schedule your free consultation today!