The Driver Who Caused My Accident Was Uninsured – Will I Still Be Compensated?

If the driver who caused you to be injured isn’t insured, it makes an already difficult situation that much more so, but it doesn’t mean that you’re out of options. You may carry insurance coverage that could address some or even all of your losses. Under these challenging circumstances, the most important step you can take is to consult with an experienced Conway, SC, car accident attorney early in the process.

Motorists Are Required to Carry Liability Insurance

Drivers in South Carolina are required to carry liability coverage. Unfortunately, not all do. If you’ve been injured by one of these motorists, you can pursue compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses by filing a lawsuit against the driver directly – rather than filing a claim with their insurance provider.

This may or may not be effective in your case – depending upon the at-fault driver’s assets. Often, people don’t purchase car insurance because they simply can’t afford it, which means they’re unlikely to have the means necessary to cover the losses addressed in the car accident cases filed against them. There are, however, exceptions to this rule.

The Insurance You Carry

If you are fully insured, you may have coverage that will help you address your losses.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance

The State of South Carolina requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance, and you can turn to this coverage in the event you’re injured by an uninsured driver. The minimum coverage required includes the following:

• $25,000 per injured person
• $50,000 per accident
• $25,000 in property damage per accident

A $200 deductible generally applies.

Your Coverage

The compensation you can seek in a claim made on your uninsured motorist coverage is comprehensive, which means it includes property damage to your vehicle and its contents, the full scope of your medical expenses, your lost wages, and your physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Stacking Policies

Another important point to make here is that uninsured motorist coverage can be stacked. This means that if you have more than one vehicle on the policy, the coverage for each can be added together and applied. You can also stack across policies if your household carries more than one.

Personal Injury Protection

While you’re not required to carry personal injury protection in South Carolina, many insurance providers offer it, and if you purchased it, it can help under the circumstances at hand. This coverage can afford you an expedited claims process, but it covers only those related medical expenses that are deemed reasonable and necessary.

In the end, if you are injured by another driver’s negligence, such as impairment or distraction, the best course of action is to follow your car accident lawyer’s advice, which will be tailored to your specific situation.

Reach Out to an Experienced Conway Car Accident Attorney Today

The savvy Conway, SC, car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A., are committed to harnessing the full force of their imposing experience and legal skill in pursuit of the compensation that you deserve. We’re on your side, so please don’t delay contacting us online or calling 843-248-3177 today.