Alaska drivers are involved in accidents now and then, most of these which result in severe injuries or deaths. That’s why one is required to have adequate car insurance for legal purposes and one’s protection. The comfort of knowing that the at-fault driver has an insurance company makes one relax. However, this may not be the case as most Alaska drivers don’t have car insurance or their coverage is not enough. If you have been involved in a car accident, it’s better to be aware of the options available in such a case.
Types Of Coverage To Use If The At-Fault Driver Doesn’t Have An Insurance
If you have suffered severe injuries, getting to know which insurance company will pay for your bills may not be in your mind, it’s always such as stressful time, and that’s why you need to contact attorneys in Wasilla Alaska to do the job for you. All in all, you need to have some bit of knowledge on what goes forth concerning car accident insurance after an accident. According to the Alaska department of administration for motor vehicles, it’s mandatory to have a liability insurance policy. Nevertheless, some states are in remote areas, and the driver doesn’t require motor vehicle insurance. The insurance company to pay for the injuries or damages after a car accident depends on many factors. Regardless of which party is at fault, Alaska’s Mandatory Insurance Law requires that both parties provide a proof of insurance having met the state’s standards. Nevertheless, if the other driver is not insured, or don’t have enough insurance, you will have to make a claim against your own insurance company based on the below insurance coverage:
- Uninsured motorist coverage: If you get involved in a car accident, and the driver at fault doesn’t have car insurance, this coverage may protect you. It’s pretty good to have a way to protect yourself as a driver by having plenty of uninsured coverage to help you get the care and compensation you deserve. Some people always think when they have insurance that they are fully covered. But, in the event of an accident, one gets surprised to learn that what included “full coverage” is not enough to cover for the injuries suffered even if they were not at fault.
- Underinsured motorist coverage: If the negligent driver has some car insurance, but it’s not enough, this type of coverage may kick in to cater for your medical expenses, car damage or any other loss incurred. However, you can only make an underinsured claim if your underinsured coverage exceeds the fault driver policy limits.
If the at-fault driver is not insured nor has auto insurance, this means that he/she doesn’t even have enough assets to start with. While you could go after the negligent driver to get your medical expenses or lost wages back, this won’t make any difference. You can only get covered by your own insurance company. Unfortunately, if all the policy limits get exhausted, you will be required to pay for the expenses from your pockets, so having higher insurance limits could help you a lot in case of a car accident.
Are There Any Limitations When Using Uninsured Or Underinsured Driver Coverage?
If you’re demanding a settlement amount that exceeds the at-fault driver insurance policy, the claim adjuster won’t even bother responding. They don’t have any duty of addressing any demands which are in excess of the available insurance. Alaska car insurance laws require no one to purchase the uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Again, both of the coverage can’t exceed the amount of your primary coverage. If you’re in such a situation, you need to act quickly with the help of your lawyer to give notice to your insurance carrier. Once again, if you chose to file a claim against the uninsured driver, there is no guaranteed that you will collect whatever is owed to you. Your claim needs to be worth the limits and the insurance company will do whatever it can to save money.
What To Do After A Car Accident With An Uninsured Driver
If you’re a car accident victim, and your driver is not insured or don’t have enough insurance policy, make sure to contact an experienced car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will tell you that the best course of action would be to report the incident to the car insurance company. This will ensure you get to know how your settlement will be handled about your coverage. You need a good lawyer to obtain all the necessary tools to have your case settled successfully. The insurance company is supposed to handle your claim without violating the duty of good faith, to ensure this is possible, have legal representation.