What Happens When The Other Driver Has No Insurance?

 You’ve just been involved in a car accident, and everything seems under control—until you find out the other driver doesn’t have insurance. Here’s what you should know when the other driver has no coverage, and what actions you can take.

Most car insurance plans either include or allow you to add coverage for accidents involving uninsured drivers. This protection applies in cases such as:

• Collisions where the at-fault driver doesn’t carry insurance
   
• Being struck in a hit-and-run incident
   

UM coverage may help cover:

• Medical treatment expenses
   
• Income lost from missed work
   
• Compensation for pain and emotional distress
   

Think of it as a replacement for the insurance the other driver should have had.

If the driver responsible for the crash has only minimal coverage that doesn’t fully cover your losses, underinsured motorist coverage can make up the difference.

This coverage is especially important in crashes that result in high medical bills or serious injuries.

If you don’t have UM or UIM protection, other parts of your own policy might still help:

• Collision insurance can help pay for car repairs (minus your deductible)
   
• Medical payments (MedPay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) may handle some of your initial medical bills
   

While not the perfect solution, this can prevent you from absorbing the full financial burden.

You can sue the at-fault driver personally. However, if they couldn’t afford car insurance, chances are they don’t have assets worth pursuing. Legal action may only be practical if the individual owns property or earns wages that could be collected.

If your policy doesn’t already include it, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is a smart addition. It’s usually low-cost and can offer major protection in the event the other driver has no insurance — or not enough.