If I’m Injured in Car Accident with Uninsured Motorist, Can I Be Compensated? An accident by itself, regardless of damage or injuries, can be an extremely stressful event. These incidents can be made even worse if you find out that the other party involved in the crash doesn’t have insurance, or if their insurance isn’t sufficient to cover the extent of damage or injuries.
This may seem like a nightmare scenario at first. However, the Middletown auto accident attorneys from Kruger & Hodges have dealt with this scenario many times. We know you are worried, and we can guide you through the process to make sure you are properly compensated for your damages.
Ohio requires anyone driving a car to have insurance. Drivers must have insurance policies with a minimum of $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage and $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident. The policy must also have $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
While those numbers may seem high, it is still certainly possible to be involved in a serious enough crash that the coverage amount on the other party’s insurance does not fully cover your costs.
If they are either under-insured or not insured at all, you may have the option of utilizing your own coverage. Many drivers in Ohio have policies that cover this exact scenario. In the event that the other party cannot cover your costs, your insurance will pick up the remainder if you have that additional policy.
Additionally, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the other driver. However, if they are already driving around without proper insurance, they may not have sufficient assets that would grant them adequate compensation.
Filing this type of claim will not cause your insurance rates to go up, so long as the other party was found to be at fault for the crash. Ohio law prohibits insurance companies from increasing your premium if you were involved in a crash that was not your fault, and one that requires you to file an uninsured motorist claim.
Lastly, it is also important to note that you should be sure to get the correct contact information for the other party. Although it’s nice to be able to trust people, you do not want to risk getting stood up by someone who is dishonest when it comes to taking responsibility.
Unfortunately, this type of situation can occur when an insurance company is more focused on making money for themselves instead of helping their clients. Our attorneys are familiar with these cases, and we will stand up to any insurance company that acts in bad faith.
When an insurance company cannot justify a low amount of compensation, they may be violating their “implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.” Translated from legalese, this means the insurance company has violated their contract to operate in good faith and uphold their end of the deal.
When insurance companies violate their contracts, the policyholder may be able to file a bad faith and standard breach of contract claim.
The attorneys in our Middletown office have handled these sorts of claims, and we know how to confront insurance companies who mistreat their policyholders.
Whether you’re dealing with an uninsured motorist, or an insurance company that isn’t upholding their end of the deal, the attorneys at Kruger & Hodges are happy to help you. We believe in standing up for our clients and aggressively pursuing adequate and justified compensation. If you are curious on how to file a claim or handle a complicated insurance process, please contact us for a free consultation so we can explore your options.
