After being hit by another car in Lancaster, the driver says they have no insurance. You still need treatment, car repairs, and a way to cover bills while missing work. So what happens if you are hit by an uninsured driver in Lancaster?
You may still have options through your own insurance, another responsible party’s coverage, or a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. The available path depends on your coverage and the circumstances of the collision.
At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we understand that your biggest concern may be how to afford treatment when the driver who injured you has no insurance.
You’ll work directly with an attorney who takes your financial concerns seriously, answers your questions, and keeps you involved in decisions about your case.
Contact us today for a free consultation about your Lancaster accident. Tell us what happened, and let’s discuss how we can help.
What Should You Do After an Accident With an Uninsured Driver?
Get medical help, call 911 for injuries or emergencies, and notify your insurer promptly. Take these additional steps:
- Document the driver and the collision. Collect the driver’s name, contact information, license plate number, and vehicle ownership information. Photograph the vehicles and scene, and obtain contact information for witnesses.
- Contact your own insurer. Report the accident even when the other driver admits having no insurance. Ask which coverages apply to your injuries, repairs, and temporary transportation.
- Submit the required DMV report. California requires an SR-1 report within 10 days when a collision causes any injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. This report is separate from reports made to law enforcement or your insurance company.
- Your insurance paperwork. Ask for a copy of your policy and declarations page to identify the coverage available at the time of the crash.
Injuries may prevent you from gathering information at the scene. Our team can obtain collision reports, contact witnesses, and request medical records to help fill those gaps.
Will Your Own Insurance Pay After an Uninsured Driver Hits You?
Your own insurance may pay for your injuries and vehicle damage if your policy included the relevant coverage when the Lancaster accident occurred. The following coverages provide different protections:
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage allows you to pursue compensation through your own insurer when an uninsured driver causes your injuries. Your claim can include medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, up to your policy limits.
Unlike coverage limited to medical bills, uninsured motorist coverage addresses the broader impact of your injuries.
Auto bodily injury liability policies must include uninsured motorist coverage unless a named insured signs a valid written rejection. If your insurer says you do not have this protection, request a copy of the signed rejection.
Medical Payments Coverage and Health Insurance
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, pays covered medical expenses regardless of who caused the collision, up to the limit you purchased. It can help you address treatment bills while your uninsured motorist injury claim is still being evaluated.
Your health insurance may also cover accident-related treatment under your plan’s terms. A health plan that pays those expenses may seek repayment from a later accident recovery, so any reimbursement obligation should be reviewed when evaluating a settlement.
Collision and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
Collision coverage can pay to repair your car or compensate you for its value if it is totalled, even when the other driver has no insurance. You generally pay a deductible, which is your share of the covered loss.
Without collision coverage, uninsured motorist property damage coverage can help pay for your vehicle damage. California law limits this payment to $3,500 or your car’s value, whichever is less.
If you have both coverages, collision pays for the covered damage, while uninsured motorist property damage covers only your remaining deductible, up to $3,500.
To use uninsured motorist property damage coverage or a collision deductible waiver, the vehicles must have made direct physical contact. You must also identify the other driver or vehicle owner, or provide the other vehicle’s license plate number. These requirements do not apply to an ordinary collision coverage claim.
Do I Need a Lancaster Car Accident Lawyer?
A lawyer can help identify who may pay for your losses and pursue the applicable claims. Insurance coverage plays a major role in what happens if you are hit by an uninsured driver, so the investigation should extend beyond the driver’s own policy.
At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, we investigate missing insurance information rather than leaving you to track it down alone. Our team also obtains collision reports, contacts witnesses, and requests medical records to support your claim.
Identify Potential Insurance Policies
A driver with no personal insurance may have been borrowing an insured vehicle or driving for an employer whose commercial policy may apply.
An attorney can investigate vehicle ownership, permission to use the car, and the purpose of the trip to determine whether another insurer should receive a claim. This means examining the circumstances behind the collision rather than relying on what the driver said at the scene.
We can also review your policy to determine whether you qualify for uninsured motorist coverage through the vehicle you occupied or a relative living in your household. That review includes coverage limits, exclusions, and any written rejection of uninsured motorist protection.
Gather Evidence to Support Your Claim
Our team obtains collision reports, arranges witness interviews, and requests medical records to document how the accident happened and what injuries followed.
We also seek documentation supporting lost earnings and reduced earning capacity when applicable. This gives us a basis for requesting compensation that accounts for the injury’s effect on your ability to work.
Handle Insurance Disputes and Claim Requirements
An attorney can address disagreements over fault or the amount owed, including disputes with your own uninsured motorist insurer. When negotiations do not resolve those issues, California law provides for arbitration, with separate requirements for preserving the claim.
Your lawyer can manage those procedures and review settlement terms before you sign away rights that may affect other available coverage.
Hit by an Uninsured Driver? Turn to the Law Offices of Steers & Associates
At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, our attorneys, investigators, and support staff work together to build your claim. We also take your immediate concerns seriously, including obtaining medical treatment, arranging vehicle repairs, and managing the financial strain of an injury.
Our attorneys bring over 40 years of combined legal experience and have recovered millions for clients.
Contact us and speak with a seasoned Lancaster car accident lawyer in a free consultation to discuss what happens if you are hit by an uninsured driver in Lancaster and how we can help.
We’ll listen to your circumstances, explain your options, and give you room to decide whether working with us is right for you. There is no pressure to hire our firm.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
- Actions on Policies Containing Liability Provisions. California Insurance Code.
- Accident Reports, California Vehicle Code § 16000 (2016).
