What Happens If You’re Hit by an Uninsured Driver?

Pedestrian accidents in Virginia are the cause of countless injuries every year. Regrettably, those involved in these accidents are often left with physical and emotional injuries that have far-reaching consequences. After being hurt in an accident, victims can file a personal injury lawsuit. But what happens when the involved driver has no car insurance coverage or leaves the crash scene? If an uninsured driver hits you as a pedestrian or while riding a bike, but your car is insured, your uninsured motorist coverage can be used to compensate you for your injuries and other damages.

What Are Insurance Requirements in Virginia

In Virginia, all drivers are legally required to carry minimum liability insurance coverage. This means that if you’re driving a vehicle, you must have compulsory insurance with the following minimums:

• $30,000 is required to cover bodily injury or death per party involved.
• $60,000 is required for bodily injury or death per crash involving two or more people.
• $20,000 is required for property damage.

Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage

In Virginia, uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM/UIM, protects individuals injured by motorists in car accidents who are driving without insurance or insufficient insurance. If you have an auto insurance policy in Virginia, you also have UM/UIM coverage at the same amounts that you do for your liability coverage.

When you are hit by an uninsured driver as a pedestrian or riding a bike, your own auto insurance policy may step in to provide compensation for your injuries and losses. Your UM/UIM coverage acts as a safety net when the responsible party lacks sufficient insurance to cover all the costs associated with your injury and this is true for any injuries caused by a motor vehicle even if you were not in your car.

Recovering Compensation For Damages

After being harmed in a pedestrian or bike accident, it is highly likely that you will face towering medical expenses, lost wages, and an array of other economic and non-economic damages. Unfortunately, being unable to work and needing intensive medical attention for your injuries can be devastating – both financially and physically. It’s your right to recover compensation to help alleviate some of the challenges you may face.

In a collision vs uninsured motorist, pedestrians or bicyclists have the right to recover compensation for their losses and damages. Filing a claim with your auto insurance company using your UM/UIM coverage is the best option. The purpose of this kind of coverage is to shield you in the event that an uninsured driver caused an accident. It can reimburse medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

But what if you don’t have auto insurance? If you live with a relative that does have auto insurance, you may be able to utilize their policy to obtain compensation. It’s also possible that the driver that caused the accident isn’t the vehicle owner. In that case, the car owner’s insurance policy may be able to help. An attorney experienced in personal injury and car accidents can help you identify any and all insurance policies that may be available to help obtain fair compensation following a car accident without car insurance.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

If you have been harmed in a pedestrian or bicycle crash that involved a driver who did not have insurance, you have the right to be compensated. Contact our team of experienced personal injury lawyers right away to find out your options.

At Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, we are committed to helping our clients get the best possible outcome for their personal injury cases. With over 150 years of combined experience and a commitment to putting our clients first, we have proudly assisted thousands of families in our community since 1973. Our team can speak with you anytime and offers free, confidential reviews of your claim.

Throughout your personal injury claim, you can rest assured knowing we will make every effort to protect your rights and that you can get justice and recover fair compensation.

Whether you come to one of our office locations or we come to you, rest assured that you will not pay until we win your case. Trust our compassionate personal injury team with your legal needs and let us fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact our law firm now for a consultation.