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What protects you after a crash with an uninsured driver?

On Behalf of | May 2, 2022 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Every driver in Arkansas should have insurance on their vehicle. State law requires proof of liability coverage to register a vehicle, and police officers typically ask for license, registration and proof of insurance during traffic stops or car crashes.

Those caught driving without insurance could face fines and other penalties if they make the same mistake more than once. The real risk is for other people, as those uninsured drivers sometimes cause car crashes.

What protects you from a driver without insurance after a wreck?

You can pay for coverage to protect yourself

What the state requires is liability coverage, and that won’t help you if you aren’t at fault for the wreck. Every Arkansas driver should have at least $25,000 worth of property damage liability coverage and bodily injury liability coverage.

Drivers do not have to carry extra coverage, but they can protect themselves by paying for additional insurance. Uninsured motorist protection is an addition to your policy that protects you if another driver causes a crash and doesn’t have insurance. Underinsured motorist protection is a similar kind of coverage that you can make a claim against when the person who hits you has insurance but not enough to pay for your hospital bill.

Comprehensive and collision coverage can also help pay costs from wrecks. Although these forms of coverage are optional, they are crucial after a crash, as even a moderate insurance policy could leave you with hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses if you suffer a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or another catastrophic injury with permanent consequences.

You can take the other driver to court

If an Arkansas police officer issued a ticket to the other driver or the investigation into the crash determines that they are the one at fault, you can potentially take them to court if they were negligent or they violated the law when they caused the crash. Civil lawsuits are also an option for those hurt by drivers with inadequate insurance policies.

You won’t have any protection if you don’t actively seek it when you get hurt by someone without car insurance. Learning more about the rules that protect you after a car crash can help you diminish the financial impact of a collision.