What happens when someone without insurance hits your car?

In a previous

article, we referenced the 2019 statistics about folks who drive without insurance—one in eight drivers are uninsured, according to a report by the Insurance Research Council (IRC).

That’s one too many. And if you’re someone who drives

with car insurance, the thought of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver may cause unnecessary worry and anxiety. Unfortunately, with nearly 43K fatal car accidents occurring in 2021 (an increase of about 11 percent from 2020), it doesn’t come as a surprise that drivers may feel stressed about getting into an accident.

So what if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver? What steps should you take? Good news, our insurance team may have some answers on the topic.

Make sure you have the right coverage before driving

When you are comparing auto insurances and quotes, it’s never a bad idea to take a look at which coverages are essential for a policy. Understanding insurance can be complicated, but we’re here to help make it a little less complicated. 

Beyond having basic auto insurance coverages like Liability, Comprehensive and Collision, it’s recommended to have certain coverages that help protect you in the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. 

As the name might suggest, coverages to think about are Uninsured and/or Underinsured Motorist coverage. These coverages are designed to protect you if someone hits you and doesn’t have insurance, or enough insurance, to cover the loss.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage can help pay for medical and related expenses, such as lost wages, due to injuries sustained in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. In some states, uninsured motorist coverage for property damage to your car may be available.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage may help cover the shortfall in instances where the at-fault driver's insurance policy doesn’t cover the full extent of medical and related expenses or damage to your vehicle (if available in your state). The at-fault driver's insurance policy pays for damages up to their policy limits and your underinsured motorist coverage may provide coverage for damages beyond those policy limits. 

With all of that information in mind—we know, that was a lot—let’s talk about the steps you can take in the event of an accident with someone driving without insurance.

I was in an accident with an uninsured driver

A car accident, big or small, can be overwhelming for any driver. The first step we recommend taking in any type of accident is to make sure you are safe. If your vehicle(s) are operable, even with a flat tire, pull over to a safe location on the side of the road. 

If you’re in an accident that leaves your vehicle inoperable and in the middle of the road, stay inside of your vehicle with your seatbelt on.

Once you are safe, call emergency services. After any accident, a filed police report can assist with insurance claims. 

Next, if able, document the accident. Gather as much info as you can from the other vehicles involved. This info could be: 

• Taking photos of all of the vehicles, at different angles

• Getting the other driver’s information

  • Phone number

  • Name

  • Insurance information

Even if the other driver is uninsured, it’s important to still gather their name and contact information. This will help your insurance company during the claims process. 

If an accident with an uninsured driver happens, your last step will be to file a claim with your car insurance. With HiRoad, you can file a claim with just a few taps in our app or by calling 855-262-1855. Your insurance company will review your coverages and determine if you have coverage that will apply for the loss.

The right coverage with the right savings

That was a lot of information, but hopefully it made this aspect of car insurance a little less complicated. And even though it may feel like all of those coverages equals a lot more money out of your wallet—think about the big picture. 

In the event of an accident with an uninsured driver, those coverages may actually help you save thousands of dollars. With the amount of uninsured motorists on the road, the cost of vehicles and potential economic influences—having these coverages in your policy may seem like a great investment.

Plus, want to know what makes that added dollar amount a little less heavy? Having car insurance like HiRoad. We are a behavior-based insurance that uses telematics to reward you every month for good driving behavior, in the form of savings. How much savings? 

Up to 50% in savings, with many HiRoad customers saving $70 each month*

Don’t let the stress of an accident with an uninsured driver get the better of you, especially when you’ve taken the high road to opt for coverages created for situations like these. Take a deep breath and remember we’re here to help.

Join us at HiRoad.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

*Based on average monthly discounts off of base rate in Rhode Island and Arizona between 10/1/2020 and 9/30/2021, determined by driving scores of users logging trips using the HiRoad App.