Indiana law requires that drivers purchase minimum liability insurance coverage for the vehicle they operate. The current Indiana minimum liability insurance requirements are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death to more than one person
- $25,000 in property damage coverage
Even though Indiana law requires every motor vehicle to be covered by automobile insurance, some drivers choose to ignore the law. Thousands of drivers are on our roads each day without insurance coverage. When an uninsured driver causes a car accident, it leaves you to bear the financial burden alone. You can sue the uninsured driver; however, most uninsured drivers don’t have enough assets to pay for the damages caused by a traffic accident.
“What can I do if an uninsured motorist injures me?”
The good news is that if you have an uninsured motorist insurance policy, you may still receive compensation for your losses even though the other driver doesn’t have insurance coverage.
What is Uninsured Motorist Insurance?
Uninsured motorist insurance (UMI) is designed to protect you in the event an uninsured motorist injures you. UMI is not liability insurance — it does not cover damage incurred by another party when you cause an accident. UMI coverage compensates you for your damages, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, emotional suffering, and physical pain. Your uninsured motorist coverage also covers anyone riding in your car who is injured by an uninsured driver.
In addition to covering you when you are hit by a driver who does not have insurance, your UMI policy may apply if you experience a hit-and-run. This type of insurance coverage is very important because the police never catch many hit-and-run drivers.
By law, each insurance company must include uninsured motorist insurance in newly written policies in Indiana. The minimum coverage for uninsured motorist insurance is:
- $25,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person
- $50,000 in bodily injury coverage for more than one person
- $10,000 in property damage coverage
You can also choose to purchase higher amounts of coverage just as you can you’re your liability insurance coverage. UMI coverage is usually very affordable compared to the protection offered by the coverage.
Your insurance company will inform you that you can decline uninsured coverage by signing a waiver. Unfortunately, many people choose to decline this vital coverage and only realize too late that they should have accepted UMI coverage. It is tragic when a person is injured in an uninsured motorist accident, and that person doesn’t have any insurance to help pay the costs and damages caused by a negligent and careless driver.
Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim
If you do have UMI coverage and the driver who caused the accident is uninsured, you must file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance company. A UMI claim is handled in the same way as a liability insurance claim. You must prove that the other driver caused the collision, the driver was uninsured, you were injured, and you suffered damages to receive compensation for your claim.
Your insurance company does not automatically pay every UMI claim that is filed. Therefore, consulting with an experienced Indiana car accident lawyer is still recommended even though you are dealing with your insurance company.
Protect Your Rights by Calling an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer
You deserve to have sound legal advice from a car accident lawyer who has your best interest as his top priority. Call The Ken Nunn Law Office at 1-800-CALL-KEN or 1-800-225-5536 to speak with a car accident lawyer today. Our lawyers offer free legal consultations for people affected by accident in Indiana and their families.
