Injured by an uninsured driver?

According to studies, approximately 6.3% of Connecticut drivers are operating a vehicle without auto insurance. What happens if you are injured as a result of the negligence of one of these uninsured drivers?

One option is you can try to sue the uninsured at-fault driver directly. This is usually not ideal, because uninsured drivers rarely have enough money and/or assets to fully compensate the injured party for their damages. Even if the uninsured driver does have assets, they can often get a personal injury judgment against them discharged by declaring bankruptcy.

The second, and much more practical, option is almost always to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own car insurance company. If you have car insurance, you pay for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM coverage, for short) in your monthly premiums to your insurance company. This coverage is in place specifically for situations where you are injured at the hands of a driver with either no car insurance, or not enough coverage to compensate you for your injuries. When you bring a UM/UIM claim, your car insurance company essentially steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver, and becomes responsible for compensating you for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. UM/UIM coverage is a protection that all of us pay for in our monthly premiums, and you should not be afraid to use it if you are injured by an uninsured driver.

With so many drivers with minimal or no insurance operating vehicles on Connecticut’s roads, it is imperative that you protect yourself by purchasing a car insurance policy with high UM/UIM limits. I would recommend UM/UIM limits of $250,000 per person/$500,000.00 per accident. If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of getting seriously injured by an uninsured driver, the coverage will be well worth the expense.