Holding Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers Accountable
About 14 percent of drivers in the United States do not have auto insurance. The main component of any auto insurance policy is known as “liability insurance.” This makes sure you are covered in the event that you injure someone else. Drivers in Washington State also have the option to take what is known as “uninsured/underinsured” motorist coverage. In my opinion, everyone should have this type of coverage because this is the clause in your insurance that really benefits you. What this coverage does is it compensates you if you are hit and injured by a driver who does not have auto insurance or doesn’t have sufficient liability insurance coverage to compensate you for your injuries, damages and loss.
In Washington State, an estimated 18 percent of drivers do not have auto insurance, which raises the possibility of a motorist in Washington getting into an accident with an uninsured driver to nearly one in five. The problem in Washington is that the state still does not require people to provide proof of liability insurance in order to register a vehicle, renew a registration or even receive a driver’s license. If you have been injured in a Washington car accident, understand that the state’s at-fault statute requires that the person responsible for causing the accident pay all costs related to the accident including property damage, medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
If you have been involved in an auto accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, get as much information as you possibly can, including pictures, diagrams, and contacts for eyewitnesses. Make sure to file a police report. Get driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers and any other pertinent information. Then, contact an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer to find out more information about your legal rights and options.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Seattle, please contact the experienced Washington personal injury attorneys with The Bernard Law Group at 1-800-418-8282 or info@bernardlawgroup.com for a FREE comprehensive and confidential consultation. We can also send you our FREE informational brochure, which has useful educational information about car accident cases to help you better understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his skilled legal team today.
