Motor vehicle crashes can cause devastating injuries. On top of the physical, mental, and emotional impact of a car accident, there can also be significant financial implications. There will be medical bills. You may miss work and lose wages as a result. Things can pile up all too quickly. Those injured in accidents caused by the negligence of another often rely on the insurance coverage of the at-fault driver to compensate them for the harm they have suffered. Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to carry insurance coverage for such situations. Unfortunately, this does not mean every Pennsylvania driver actually carries insurance. There are many drivers without any insurance at all and even more that only carry the bare minimum, leaving them underinsured should they cause significant damages in a car accident. The possibility of being injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver is all too real. Let’s take a look at how you can protect yourself.
How You Can Protect Yourself From Uninsured Drivers
Whether a driver is uninsured or underinsured, meaning they lack the insurance coverage to fully cover the damages they have caused in an accident, the financial consequences for you can be downright crippling. You may be able to go after the at-fault driver personally, seeking compensation from them directly by accessing their assets, but this can be difficult to do. Even if you can get a damages judgment against them, they may lack the assets to fully compensate you for the harm you have incurred due to the accident. The fact of the matter is that it can be a dangerous game to play when you put all of your faith on another driver’s ability to adequately cover your expenses should you be injured in an accident they caused. This is why it is a good idea to consider getting uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
If you opted for UM coverage or will be trying to seek compensation from the at-fault party personally, through their insurance carrier, or both, it will still be important to protect yourself by preserving your claim as best as possible. There are several things you can do to help accomplish this. For starters, you can call 911 after the accident. Law enforcement will arrive on the scene and an official accident report will be generated as a result. The accident report is a critical piece of evidence in supporting an injury claim later on.
You should also take notes about the accident as soon as possible so that your memory of the details is still fresh. Note the date, time, and location of the accident as well as what happened. If there are any witnesses to the accident, try to get their names and contact information. Taking pictures at the scene can also be helpful. Pictures can be compelling pieces of evidence in an accident injury claim, showing the damage more clearly than one may be able to with just words alone.
Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
Getting the monetary recovery, you deserve after an accident can be difficult. At Cooper, Schall & Levy, we tirelessly pursue every potential avenue of recovery to help ensure that you are properly compensated. Contact us today.
