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What to do if you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver who is at fault

It is against the law to drive without insurance, but 12% of Minnesota residents do not or cannot get car insurance, yet they continue to drive. Many more Minnesota residents are underinsured.

Author: Sasha Holmes
Date: Dec 2, 2011 - 4:43:36 PM

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It is against the law to drive without insurance, but 12% of Minnesota residents do not or cannot get car insurance, yet they continue to drive.  Many more Minnesota residents are underinsured. In today’s economy many hard working families are struggling financially just to stay afloat and car insurance, although extremely important, is sometimes dropped or never purchased.  More often than not, when deciding between buying groceries or paying for car insurance, putting the money towards the groceries will be the choice. 

This generally feels like the right decision until the uninsured driver becomes involved in an accident.  It is not just the uninsured driver who is at risk in this situation; it is also their family and anyone else who is involved in an accident where the uninsured or underinsured driver is at fault.  So, what do you do if you are injured in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver who is at fault?

The answer is simple:  Contact a personal injury attorney who can help you get the compensation you need and deserve.  If the at fault driver does not have insurance your attorney will contact your insurance company.  When you purchase insurance you are automatically covered for situations such as this by your personal insurance policy.  Your attorney will ensure your insurance company comes through for you in your time of need. 

As an example, if the at fault driver is underinsured, and you have $60,000 worth of medical bills as a result of the accident and their insurance coverage is only good for up to $30,000, how do you get the additional $30,000 you need?  Your attorney will contact your insurance agency to ensure you are compensated for the additional medical costs.

You must also consider the fact that it is not just medical bill coverage you are entitled to if you are injured in an accident.  You may need additional compensation for wages and earnings lost if you are hospitalized or unable to work due to your injuries.  This is money you and your family depend on to pay your bills and meet your financial obligations.  You may also need compensation in the event you are no longer able to work due to your injuries. 

If you are injured to the point of not being able to work for a long period of time or are never able to go back to work, your future inability to work due to the injuries you sustained as a result of the accident should be covered.  You and your family should not have to suffer the loss of your wages due to an accident that was not your fault.  For these situations such as these you require an experienced and dedicated attorney who will fight for you to ensure you are properly and fully compensated.

Few individuals take the time to plan for the “what if?” that may occur if they are involved in and injured an automobile accident.  If the unthinkable and unimaginable become a tragic reality it is important that you know where to turn for help.  The first step is to be sure that you and your family are sufficiently insured and covered in case of an accident. 

But remember, just because you take measures to protect yourself, your family and your belongings doesn’t mean the other drivers on the road are as conscientious as you.  You need to know your rights to compensation after an accident has occurred.  Contact an experienced and dependable personal injury attorney as soon as possible to help you through this often confusing and frustrating process and ensure you receive the full compensation and best settlement you deserve!

Paige Donnelly Attorneys at Law in St. Paul MN have 50 years of specialization in personal injury accident claims throughout the twin cities and Minnesota

View all articles by Sasha Holmes

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