What to Do After an Accident with An Uninsured Motorist

Washington State requires all drivers to maintain a minimum standard liability auto insurance. Despite this mandate, a 2021 Insurance Research Council study lists Washington as one of the five states with the highest percentage of uninsured drivers, registering at 21.7%.

What can a person do after experiencing an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver?

Insurance Protections

Insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured coverage in Washington, but drivers have no obligation to carry the option. Many drivers opt for the coverage because of the substantial risk of a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

A pedestrian or bicyclist may damage an individual or vehicle, and such individuals have no requirements to carry insurance. Likewise, an uninsured driver could strike a pedestrian or cyclist, and a person might avail themselves of uninsured motorist coverage in such a case.

Costs After an Accident

Even if a person has insurance, the proceeds may not cover all medical costs. In such a case, an injured person can rightly pursue restitution in a court of law.

Other factors at play could cause an accident or injury. For instance, poor road conditions might be the result of government negligence. Auto defects may play a role in a crash or in exacerbating injuries.

The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is three years in Washington, Since the full extent of injuries may not appear immediately after a crash, an individual may need to take legal action some duration of time after the accident, but it is wise not to delay seeking professional medical advice to determine the extent of physical harm.

Uninsured drivers pose a legitimate threat on Washington roads. Travelers do well to prepare to receive full compensation after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.