Although it is illegal to drive without insurance in the state of Ohio, nearly one in eight drivers are uninsured. This means you need to be prepared in the event that you are in a car accident with an uninsured (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM). We have compiled a list of steps that you should follow if you are in a car accident with someone who does not have insurance and is at fault for the accident.
- Call the police. Even if you know nothing about the motorist who has hit you, no matter what the circumstance, you should take this step immediately. Why? When you file your insurance claim or if you do need to involve a lawyer, it will be important to have documentation of the accident. You will need to have information regarding when the accident happened, where it occurred, the damage that resulted in the accident, and the information of the other person or people involved, as well as documented witnesses.
- Check if you are covered. In some states, you are required to have uninsured motorist protection; however, Ohio is not one of them. Check your insurance policy to see if you have this protection, as it may cover your injuries and damages that resulted from the crash, despite the other party not having insurance.
- Take action. if you have been injured in an motor vehicle accident and the person who is at fault did not have insurance, contact a lawyer who specializes in motor vehicle accidents such as the lawyers at Bentoff and Duber as there may be remedies through your own insurance.
Knowing what steps to take, what your rights are and who you should be filing your claim against after you’ve been in an accident can be difficult. We, at Bentoff and Duber, have experienced lawyers that know what action to take when helping victims of motor vehicle accidents. If you’ve recently been in a car accident, contact us for a free consultation today. We’re here to help!
About the author: Brandon Duber, a Partner with Bentoff & Duber Co., LPA, is a lawyer with proven experience in the courtroom and expertise in the areas of workers’ compensation, criminal defense, personal injury and medical malpractice law. He received his B.A. from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and his J.D. from The Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, OH.