Hurt By A Driver Who Does Not Have Insurance?
Some bad drivers cannot, or refuse to, purchase auto insurance coverage. Estimates show that the national average of uninsured drivers on our roadways is as high as 15 percent. Getting into an accident with an uninsured driver can be a nightmare, since it is extremely difficult to recover damages from drivers at fault.
Accidents involving negligent underinsured drivers — those who carry minimum coverages — can be almost as devastating to the innocent driver whose car is wrecked and who faces thousands of dollars in medical bills.
Required Insurance Coverage In Connecticut
In Connecticut, all motor vehicles must have insurance. The law sets a strict minimum limit on the coverage you must purchase:
- $20,000 for injuries per person per accident
- $40,000 maximum compensation for injuries in a single accident
- $10,000 for property damage per accident
Connecticut law also requires all drivers who purchase insurance to also purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance. The minimum required coverage on your UIM policy is $20,000 for injuries per person per accident and $40,000 total per accident.
It is important to note that these minimum amounts will not be sufficient to compensate victims of a serious accident. Medical bills for a critically injured victim can surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a few days, and future expenses can be even higher. If possible, you should consider purchasing insurance that offers coverage above the minimum amount.
What Is The Purpose Of Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
As mentioned above, not all drivers on Connecticut roads carry auto insurance, and those who do carry coverage may not have enough to compensate victims of a serious accident. So what happens when you are injured by one of these drivers?
Your uninsured/underinsured coverage is designed to assist you in these situations. If the negligent driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover your losses, or if you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident and cannot identify the other driver, you can draw upon your own UIM coverage to pay for your medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. This is an important safety net for drivers who may otherwise be forced to pay their own medical expenses out of pocket or engage in challenging litigation against the negligent party.
Note that using your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will not cause your rates to increase — after all, the accident was not your fault.
Get An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer On Your Side
In many cases, insurance companies push hard to limit their financial exposure in car accident cases. The insurer may challenge you on a number of issues, including the severity of your injuries and the costs associated with your future treatment. As your law firm, we can help you counter this behavior and pursue the full compensation to which you are entitled.
At the Law Offices of James L. O'Rourke, our attorneys for uninsured motorist claims in Connecticut have decades of experience guiding accident victims through the personal injury claims process. To schedule a free consultation, contact our Bridgeport law firm online or call 800-658-1245.