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What should I do if involved in an uninsured motorist accident?

by | Sep 3, 2014 | Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accidents

There are scores of uninsured drivers cruising around the streets of Fort Collins every day. This fact may not be alarming to you — but then, you may not know the implications of uninsured driving. What could happen if you are struck by such an irresponsible motorist? When uninsured or underinsured motorist accidents occur, the victim could end up without the financial compensation necessary to pay for medical expenses and other costs. Luckily, you do have some legal recourse if you have been involved in a wreck with an uninsured motorist.

What do the statistics say about this problem? Studies show us that about one in every eight drivers is uninsured. Those numbers come from a research study that was conducted by the Insurance Research Council during the 2014 calendar year. Although this is a drop from recent years, the number of uninsured motorists on the road should still be alarming to the everyday driver.

Why would someone choose not to purchase insurance? In many instances, the individual is facing financial difficulty and may not be able to afford insurance. Some others are simply unwilling to pay for this important cost, and they are willing to risk the consequences if they are caught. Although penalties for driving uninsured often criminalize the practice, that does little to compensate the victims of accidents that involve uninsured motorists.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? Consider purchasing uninsured motorist coverage to pay for your own medical costs if you suffer injury in a crash with an uninsured motorist. Other civil legal options also exist to pursue financial compensation from those without a valid insurance policy. Through your own insurance choices — and civil legal actions against the uninsured Colorado motorist — you may be able to protect your financial interests, no matter the nature of the car accident.

Source: Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, “Uninsured Motorists Basics” Sep. 01, 2014