Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Car Accidents are a serious problem in Washington State. These are accidents where the driver causing the car crash has no automobile liability insurance coverage or not enough coverage to fully compensate those who were injured.
Washington State law requires drivers to purchase automobile liability insurance, with few exceptions. An Uninsured Motorist Car Accident occurs when a driver without liability insurance causes an automobile accident.
According to the Insurance Information Instituted in 2015 the State of Washington had one of the highest percentages of uninsured drivers. Their research found uninsured drivers made up approximately 17% or 1 in 6 of all drivers within the State of Washington. This is very dangerous for everyone on Washington’s roads! People who are injured in car accidents may obtain compensation for their injuries by making insurance claims. If the driver responsible for the accident was an uninsured driver, it may be very difficult for the injured person to get full and fair compensation for their injuries.
When an uninsured driver causes an injury car accident, the injured person can look to their own automobile insurance for compensation. The injured person may have Personal Injury Protection or Med Pay as part of their own automobile insurance and/or health insurance to help pay for their medical bills while treating and recovering from their injuries. If the driver that cause the crash has no liability insurance, an insurance settlement would most likely have to come from the injured person’s own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, assuming they purchased that coverage as a part of their own automobile insurance policy.
To protect yourself, your family and your passengers from those who drive without liability insurance, we recommend purchasing Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist coverage as a part of your own automobile insurance policy. This is the coverage that protects you if you are injured in a collision caused by a driver with no liability insurance or not enough insurance coverage. It’s the best way to ensure you and your household are protected against uninsured drivers.
Even if it appears that the driver who caused the car accident was an uninsured driver with no automobile liability insurance coverage, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. That attorney may be able to dig deeper as to other sources of insurance coverage depending on the circumstances such as the vehicle owner’s coverage or an employer’s coverage.