Car Accident Lawyer in Denver, CO
Whether you think you’re the person at fault or not, being in a car crash is often not straightforward. From gathering witnesses to obtaining proof of all your expenses, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the claim process. Sorting out the damages can become even more complex when one of the people involved doesn’t have auto insurance.
There are more uninsured drivers on the road than you may think, with the Insurance Information Institute reporting that about one out of every eight drivers is uninsured (https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists). Whether they can’t afford the premiums or missed a payment, there simply is no shortage of uninsured motorists on roads across the country.
So, what exactly happens when an uninsured driver gets into an accident? One common misconception is that the driver with insurance, if not at fault, is out of luck. Another one is that the driver without insurance, if not at fault, is also out of luck, as they will get into some sort of trouble if they go to an accident attorney for help or won’t be able to get any money because they didn’t have the required insurance.
These misconceptions can leave money on the table. Your auto accident attorney is working on your behalf and will determine what the best approach in your case will be, regardless of your insurance status or the insurance status of the other driver at the time of the crash.
While the laws regarding compensation for uninsured drivers vary by state, there are many cases in which someone who doesn’t have insurance will be able to recover some damages from the accident if they are not at fault. In California, for instance, a driver who doesn’t have insurance can still recover damages for costs related to the accident, such as medical bills or repair costs. What they can’t recover in California is compensation for “non-economic” damages such as suffering and pain, something that insured drivers are able to pursue.
If you had insurance but the other driver didn’t, your attorney will be able to help you decide what steps to take to recover damages. If you have under-insured or uninsured motorist coverage on your auto insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim with your insurer. This type of additional coverage is meant for an accident in which the other driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough coverage in light of the losses from the accident. Should you not have this coverage, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the driver to try and recover some or all of your losses related to the accident.
An auto accident attorney will be able to assist you after you’ve been in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or if you didn’t have insurance yourself but were not at fault in the crash. Contact a car accident lawyer in Denver, CO about your case as soon as you can so all of your rights are protected, and you know what your options are.
Call Richard J. Banta, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and car accidents with uninsured drivers.
