What Happens if You Get Hit by A Driver without Insurance?

Louisiana car crashes occur for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes, it is distraction that leads to one driver hitting another. Other times, chemical impairment or fatigue affects how well someone handles a dangerous situation in traffic.

Generally, drivers should adjust their speed and behaviors on the road to reflect traffic and weather conditions in addition to following posted traffic rules, like the speed limit. A driver who makes bad decisions will be financially liable for the crash.

Typically, their insurance will pay for any damages or injuries they caused other people. What happens if the person who wrecks your car or breaks your leg doesn’t have insurance?

Uninsured Drivers Are a Known Issue in Louisiana

Although state law does mandate liability insurance coverage, not everyone keeps an active policy on their vehicle. Louisiana ranks right in the middle of the states, at 26th for the total number of uninsured drivers.

Approximately 11.7% of drivers in Louisiana don’t have active coverage, at least based on data from 2019.  You have a slightly better than one in 10 chance of the person who causes your crash not having insurance on their car.

You Can Protect Yourself from Uninsured Drivers

Before you get into a wreck caused by an irresponsible person that leaves you with tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills and lost wages, you can act to protect yourself. Adding uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to your liability policy protects you if you get hit by someone without coverage or with not enough Insurance based on the injuries and losses you suffer.

You will then have the option of making a claim against your own insurance policy for the same losses you could have claimed from the other driver’s coverage.

What if You Don’t Have Uninsured Motorist Protection?

Louisiana does not mandate uninsured motorist protection, and you may have thought you didn’t need that extra coverage. If you don’t have uninsured motorist protection, there may still be some help in your policy if you have comprehensive, collision or personal injury protection on your policy.

If not, you may need to take civil action against the other driver. Louisiana does allow you to sue someone who causes injuries or property damage due to bad behavior or negligence. Knowing how to protect yourself after a car crash can minimize the lasting effects of the wreck on your life.