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What if the other driver is uninsured?
Start by checking the coverages in your own policy and reporting the crash to your insurer. An uninsured driver does not, by itself, establish which coverage will pay or how much can be recovered.
By SettlementLift. Published · Updated .
Read the coverage names and limits
The NAIC explains that uninsured motorist coverage can protect a policyholder injured by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. Vehicle damage may involve collision or uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Check whether your policy includes the relevant coverage, its limits, deductibles, exclusions and reporting requirements; do not assume an injury coverage also pays for damage to the car.
NAIC: Consumer auto insurance ↗Give your insurer the information you have
Keep the report reference, photographs, witness details and communications in one folder. Explain what is known about the other driver’s insurance and what remains uncertain. Ask what documents are needed and how to provide them securely. If the driver left the scene, ask which reporting requirements apply to a hit-and-run claim.
Separate vehicle damage from injury questions
Ask which coverage is being reviewed for each part of the claim and which claim reference to use. Ask whether there are separate deadlines or documents for vehicle damage, medical expenses and any other loss. Keep your bills and receipts, but do not assume that sending a bill means the insurer has accepted responsibility for it.
Ask for an explanation of a coverage decision
Request the policy language and reasons supporting a denial or a limit on payment. Your state insurance department can help explain insurance questions; the NAIC points consumers to those departments. An attorney can advise about the options and deadlines in your individual case.
NAIC: Consumer auto insurance ↗Avoid guessing the recovery available
Uninsured and underinsured are different situations. If a driver has insurance but its limits may be insufficient, ask which policies and rules need to be reviewed. Neither a coverage label nor a policy limit is a settlement estimate. Ask for advice tied to the policy, facts and state involved.