What if the Car that Hits Me Does Not Have Any Insurance?
If the driver who causes you to be injured doesn’t carry the liability insurance every car owner is required to purchase in the State of South Carolina, it leaves you in a serious predicament. In this situation, you’ll turn to your own car insurance policy to address specific losses you experience. To help ensure that you receive all the compensation to which you’re entitled, you need the skilled legal guidance of an experienced South Carolina car accident attorney in your corner.
Personal Injury Claims
If you’re injured by another driver’s negligence, such as by a distracted driver who was more interested in their phone than in navigating the road safely, you can file a car accident claim with their insurance provider in pursuit of fair compensation that covers each of the following categories of legal damages:
- Property damage to your car and its contents
- Medical expenses – both current and ongoing
- Lost income, including lost earning potential
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
If the driver whose negligence caused you to be injured also fails to carry the required liability coverage, you’ll need to turn to your own policy, which offers less robust coverage but can still play an important role in your recovery.
Your Insurance Policy
When the at-fault driver isn’t insured, you still have your own insurance policy to turn to.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
In South Carolina, every car owner is required to purchase uninsured motorist insurance (UMI), and this is a primary resource if you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident that was caused by an uninsured driver. Your uninsured motorist insurance will cover each of the following categories of loss:
- Property damage to your car
- The related medical expenses that are considered necessary
An important note that should be made about UMI coverage is that, in the State of South Carolina, it can be stacked. This means that if you have more than one policy for your household or if you cover more than one vehicle on your policy, the coverage limits can be combined to better address your complete losses.
Personal Injury Protection
Another form of insurance that can help in the face of an accident that was caused by an uninsured driver is personal injury protection, which you also likely carry. In South Carolina, insurance providers are required to offer this coverage, and it can only be denied in writing.
Because PIP coverage doesn’t take fault into consideration, it helps to speed up the claims process. If you do have PIP coverage, it will address your necessary medical expenses and your lost income – up to the policy limit. PIP coverage can also be stacked.
Make the Call to an Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Attorney Today
The practiced car accident attorneys at Oxner & Stacy Law Firm LLC – serving both Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina – appreciate how challenging claims that are triggered by uninsured motorists can be, and we are well prepared to employ the full force of our imposing experience in dedicated pursuit of just compensation for you. For more information, please don’t delay contacting us online or calling 866-586-0116 today.