How to handle an accident with an uninsured driver.

Believe it or not, there are people on the roads right now without auto insurance.  Though you may get through life without ever encountering an uninsured driver, many of us are not so lucky and will be involved in an auto accident with an uninsured or an underinsured driver at some point in our lives.  So, if this happens, what do you do?  Let’s consider the following scenario:

You’re driving along, minding your own business, being the normal perfect driver that you always are, when WHAM!

Someone hits you while merging, not noticing you in the other lane while they were texting.  You both pull over, they apologize enough to make you think that they made an honest mistake, and you exchange insurance information.

But surprise – when you call their insurance company you are informed that their policy was cancelled two years ago.

This may seem far fetched, but it happens every day in every state across the country.  According to the Insurance Research Council, an estimated 14% of drivers do not currently have insurance.  That means that you have a greater than one in ten chance of being involved in an auto accident with an uninsured driver!  In some states such as Florida, the numbers are much higher, with some estimates as high as a one in five chance of any accident having an uninsured driver.

So what is our financially responsible hero to do?  Luckily there is something called Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage, which helps protect against just such an event.  Call your insurance agent to see what your limits are under this coverage, and report the claim through your own company.  If you are an Alliance Insurance client, call (336) 377-9003 and let us walk you through the claims process.

Accidents happen, sometimes with irresponsible parties.  Luckily for all of us, your agent is here to help walk you through life’s tricky moments.