The stress of a car accident can be overwhelming in any situation. Victims could sustain significant injuries and damages. With medical bills piling up, the challenges making financial ends meet can be difficult. These challenges are only compounded if you are forced to miss work due to your injuries. Fortunately, an experienced car accident attorney could help you recover compensation from your injuries. While insurance coverage can make obtaining monetary damages more convenient, there are other avenues to obtain compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one were injured in a motor vehicle collision due to an uninsured motorist, our seasoned legal team at the A.W. Smith Law Firm are ready to help. A Columbia, MO uninsured car accident lawyer could investigate your accident and help you recover compensation for your damages and injuries.
Like all states, Missouri requires drivers to maintain liability insurance before a motorist can get behind the wheel. These insurance policies are designed to pay crash victims when the insured driver is responsible for the accident.
Driving without insurance is a criminal offense that could result in fines or even jail time. Those are not the only consequences, however. If an uninsured driver causes an accident, they could be on the hook for their own damages as well as any harm that comes to the other drivers involved in the crash.
Columbia drivers must maintain insurance that meets several minimum requirements. These requirements include coverage for:
In addition to traditional liability insurance, drivers must also carry uninsured motorist coverage. This type of policy pays a driver when an uninsured motorist injures them. These policies must carry at least $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 bodily injury coverage per crash.
A person injured by an uninsured driver is not without options. With the help of a Columbia uninsured car crash attorney, the injured claimant might be able to recover monetary damages from several sources. Most accident lawsuits center on the negligent driver. However, there are several potential sources for compensation.
Drivers that lack insurance coverage might have assets of their own that could be used to compensate an injury victim. If a victim obtains a judgment in court, they could pursue wage garnishments or bank levies against the defendant.
In rare cases, an insurance company that refuses to cover an accident can change their mind. In these cases, an experienced Columbia uninsured car accident lawyer might be able to pressure an insurer to reconsider their denial of coverage.
A driver’s insurance company could also be responsible for the damages to an injury victim. If the other driver was uninsured or had inadequate insurance coverage, the injury victim can file an uninsured motorist claim with their carrier. While the insurance company could offer the full amount of coverage available, in most cases, they will attempt to resolve a claim for less.
Drivers deserve the peace of mind knowing that if another person causes an accident, they will not be on the hook for the damages caused by someone else’s negligence.
If you sustained an injury in a crash with an uninsured driver, you have the right to seek monetary compensation. Our experienced legal team at the A.W. Smith Law Firm could help you recover compensation for your damages. Reach out today to discuss your legal options with a Columbia uninsured car accident lawyer.
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