The Driver Who Caused My Accident Was Uninsured – Will I Still Be Compensated?
Being injured by another driver’s negligence puts you in a challenging position, but if they don’t carry the liability coverage that is required by law, things become that much more difficult. Fortunately, as an insured driver, you have options that include turning to your own insurance coverage. If you’ve been injured by an uninsured motorist, it’s time to consult with an experienced Georgetown car accident attorney.
If the Other Driver Is Uninsured
Every car owner in South Carolina is required to carry liability insurance coverage. When this is the case, accident victims proceed by filing their claims with the at-fault drivers’ insurance providers and allowing their savvy car accident attorneys to negotiate fair settlements. If the driver in question, however, doesn’t carry the required insurance coverage, this isn’t an option. Further, if they don’t carry car insurance, there’s a very good chance they don’t have the resources to cover the losses you’ve experienced.
Turning to Your Own Uninsured Motorist Coverage
While your situation limits your options, it’s important to know that this doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Motorists in South Carolina are required to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM), and this means that you can turn to your own car insurance policy to cover your losses in the following categories:
- Your necessary medical expenses
- Property damage to your car and its contents
UM coverage is more limited than a personal injury claim, which can compensate you for all the following categories of loss:
- Property damage to your vehicle and its contents
- Your medical bills
- Your lost earnings
- Your physical and emotional pain and suffering
Nevertheless, your UM coverage can serve you well. Further, South Carolina allows UM coverage to be stacked across policies. This means that you can combine the coverage from those policies that directly cover you or your vehicle. Further, if you have more than one vehicle on a specific policy, the coverage for each can generally be stacked, which increases your policy limits.
Personal Injury Protection
There is also a very good chance that you carry personal injury protection (PIP) through your car insurance policy. In South Carolina, car insurance providers are required to offer PIP coverage, and the only way to decline the coverage is in writing. PIP coverage is no-fault coverage, which means you can expect it to kick in prior to your car accident claim being finalized and prior to the other driver being assigned fault. PIP covers your related medical bills and your lost earnings.
Consult with an Experienced Georgetown Car Accident Attorney Today
The focused car accident attorneys at Oxner & Stacy Law Firm LLC – proudly serving both Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina – understand how difficult claims involving uninsured motorists can be, and we dedicate our practice to helping our clients fully recover on their losses possible. Your claim is important, so please don’t wait to reach out by contacting us online or calling 866-586-0116 to learn more about what we can do to help you today.