Traveling in motor vehicles is a relatively risky behavior. However, modern life in Missouri largely necessitates the use of a motor vehicle. People tend to downplay the degree of risk involved because the average trip in a vehicle does not result in a crash.
Still, the more miles people travel, the greater their likelihood of eventually experiencing a major car wreck. When collisions occur, there is an expectation that the party at fault for the incident should bear financial responsibility. Mandatory insurance rules help ensure that someone affected by a crash caused by another person can obtain reasonable financial compensation for their losses.
Insurance can pay to repair or replace a vehicle damaged in a collision. An at-fault party’s liability coverage can also help pay for medical expenses and income lost due to injuries. But, who covers those costs when the person responsible for the crash doesn’t have appropriate insurance coverage?
People may rely on their own policies
Many Missouri drivers carry robust insurance coverage to protect themselves not just from liability but the overall risk of a motor vehicle collision. Uninsured motorist protection is a popular addition to someone’s standard liability policy. Those who have such coverage can turn to their own insurance policies for support after a crash with an uninsured driver. Any losses that the other driver’s policy should have covered could be eligible for uninsured motorist coverage. The downside of using that additional coverage is that it could increase what someone pays for insurance later even though they were not at fault for the wreck.
Lawsuits may also be an option
Perhaps someone does not have particularly expansive insurance coverage, or maybe their losses are relatively high. There are many reasons why someone might need to consider filing a lawsuit after a crash caused by a driver without insurance. Oftentimes, a lawsuit is the best means of holding an unsafe and irresponsible driver personally accountable for their choices. Other times, someone’s lack of insurance might be indicative that they also lack the income and personal property to compensate people after a crash.
There are certain scenarios in which a lawsuit against a business could also be an option after a collision. Various different scenarios ranging from product defects to crashes caused by delivery drivers could lead to business liability for a car crash. Lawsuits can lead to more thorough compensation for those who might otherwise be unable to cover the costs triggered by a wreck.
Knowing the options available after a crash caused by an uninsured driver may help people cover the expenses generated by an injurious incident.