Indiana law mandates motor vehicle insurance coverage from all drivers. You should have a reasonable expectation of insurance coverage in any situation where you get hurt because of another driver’s behavior.
Unfortunately, just like there are people who drive after drinking and merge without using their turn signal to indicate their intent, there are also many drivers who knowingly let their insurance coverage lapse. They can’t afford insurance coverage or think that they won’t get into a wreck and don’t need the coverage.
What protects you after a crash caused by someone who doesn’t currently have the appropriate insurance?
You may have grounds for a personal injury claim
The reason that people can drive without risking their financial future is that insurance will pay for someone’s medical bills or other major costs if they cause a crash. Most people do not have enough to pay for someone else’s hospital expenses and lost wages.
However, it will typically cost someone more to cause a crash without insurance than it will cost for them to pay for insurance as required by law. You can potentially bring a personal injury claim against an uninsured driver for the losses that insurance would typically cover.
Your lost wages, medical expenses and even the cost to replace your vehicle can all add to the total amount that you seek in a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. The courts can potentially award you compensation for up to the full Financial impact of the crash.
Your own insurance can provide a layer of protection
Drivers in Indiana have the requirement of carrying uninsured motorist protection. The state requires at least $25,000 in uninsured motorist injury protection in addition to your liability coverage.
Such coverage will apply to crash-related expenses when the driver to blame for the wreck does not have the appropriate insurance. Recognizing the value of uninsured motorist protection is often something that happens after a crash, and you may not have enough uninsured motorist protection to pay all of your costs.
Drivers left with large expenses and insufficient insurance coverage may need to look closely at the situation for alternate means of securing compensation, like third-party liability claims. Understanding your rights after a major motor vehicle collision can help you more fully cover the costs the wreck causes.