Everyone knows it’s a bad idea to drive without insurance, right?? Well, not only is it a bad idea, but in 49 out of 50 US states, drivers are LEGALLY required to carry their state’s minimum requirements to legally drive a vehicle. But some states, Florida, for instance, have as much as 27% of their drivers driving around uninsured.
New York is one of several states that has a “no-fault” policy. This means that regardless of fault, both parties must turn to their own insurance companies in search of compensation for medical bills and lost wages. Unfortunately, most insurance companies will only cover up to a certain percentage of reimbursement.
Once your wages and bills exceed your policy limits, you are accountable for paying the remainder through your own personal health insurance or out-of-pocket. While you can sue the driver for other damages, what if they are uninsured? If they’re not paying for insurance, they probably don’t have enough money to cover your expenses, so what’s there to do?
One of the best things you can do is to purchase additional uninsured motorist coverage. It covers any injury expenses you or passengers in your car suffer if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. You can also purchase what is known as underinsurance for a relatively low cost. What this does is allows you to make a claim through your own insurance carrier should you be involved in an accident with a car that is “underinsured” when compared directly against your policy. We strongly advise all of our clients to invest in this added coverage.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, contact The Law Office of Richard Kenny for a FREE consultation. Our firm has recovered over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for all types of car accident cases and we have devoted our careers to getting the best care and compensation for victims of accidents.
