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Following a car accident with an uninsured driver, you may end up filing a claim through the uninsured motorist provisions of your own car insurance policy. Uninsured motorist coverage covers car accident injuries and other related losses when the other driver doesn’t have car insurance. In this article, we provide an overview of uninsured motorist coverage and how to file a related claim in New York.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage allows a driver to obtain financial compensation for injuries and other accident-related losses following a crash with an uninsured driver who is responsible for the accident. Following a car accident, it usually doesn’t take long to determine whether the at-fault driver has car insurance. Typically, when the police arrive at the scene of the accident, they request the insurance information of each driver involved. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have car insurance, then the police will likely inform the other driver of this fact.
And even if the police don’t respond to the scene of an accident, it is typical for both drivers to exchange information. If one driver fails to provide the other with insurance details, then this is usually a sign that he or she lacks coverage for the accident. In this type of situation, the insured driver should let his or her insurance company know that the other driver did not provide insurance details. The insurance company will then be able to verify the insurance status of all drivers involved in the accident.
Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim
Following an accident with an uninsured driver, you should report the accident to your own insurance company. After doing so, your insurance company will determine whether the other driver possesses car insurance. If not, your insurance company will explain your options and inform you of whether you will need to utilize your uninsured motorist coverage.
Initiating an uninsured motorist claim following a car accident is relatively straightforward. Once your insurance company determines that the other party lacks car insurance, it will open the claim, investigate your accident, request medical records and other evidence from you, and attempt to place a monetary value on your insurance claim. Depending on the facts of your case and other factors, this process can a few weeks to several months. Although it is relatively simple to open an uninsured motorist claim, the process of gathering records and evidence, reviewing legal documents, and determining if your insurance company has fairly valued your case can be complicated. Therefore, if you plan on filing an uninsured motorist claim in New York, you should contact a car accident attorney for assistance.
Contact Our New York & Long Island Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident with an uninsured driver in New York, you should contact the car accident attorneys of Dell & Dean, PLLC. When you come to us for help with your New York car accident case, we review your situation, formulate a case strategy, and diligently seek financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule a consultation.
