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What happens after a crash caused by a driver without insurance?

On Behalf of | Jul 28, 2024 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

If all drivers had to personally cover the costs generated by car crashes, most people probably couldn’t afford to drive. The cost of replacing someone else’s vehicle, paying their medical bills or compensating them for lost wages could be more than the driver at fault makes in a year.

Liability insurance is required by Arkansas state law to make driving accessible. Every driver has to carry a policy that provides property damage and injury coverage. When they are at fault for a crash, that policy reimburses the other people affected by the collision. Quite a few crashes occur specifically because drivers don’t always follow traffic laws.

Not only do they violate the rules for operating vehicles, but they may also break the rule about carrying insurance. What can someone involved in a collision do if the driver who hit them doesn’t have necessary coverage?

Uninsured drivers are a common hazard

When compared with many other states, Arkansas is about average when it comes to the number of uninsured motorists. It is not in the worst states in the country or among the states with the lowest number of uninsured drivers. Data from 2022 insurance claims indicates that around one in six drivers in Arkansas may not have proper insurance at any given time. According to an analysis of claims filed in 2022, approximately 15.1% of motorists don’t have the mandatory insurance to drive.

A lawsuit may be necessary

Uninsured drivers don’t just put themselves at risk of an extra ticket. They also have to accept the financial liability that results when they cause a collision. A motorist without insurance coverage or with low insurance coverage may face a lawsuit if they injure another person or cause a fatal collision.

A lawsuit can result in a judgment awarding the affected party compensation for the full financial impact of the collision. Occasionally, there may also be third parties with a degree of liability. Perhaps the driver was on the clock at work while driving. Maybe the crash occurred because of a defective part in their vehicle.

In scenarios where a lawsuit is necessary to cover collision expenses, looking at secondary options for compensation can be a smart decision. The only other option available is to pursue a claim against uninsured motorist coverage. However, filing a claim against a personal insurance policy inevitably leads to higher policy premiums in the future.

Those who aren’t at fault for a car crash shouldn’t have to pay their own expenses or absorb higher insurance costs either. Reviewing lawsuit options with a skilled legal team can be beneficial for those involved in a crash caused by someone without insurance.