Who Pays When Pedestrians or Bicyclists Are Hit by Uninsured Drivers?
If you’ve been in a car accident, then you’re all too familiar with the physical, emotional, and financial toll that such an incident can exact. Now imagine how much worse it could be if you didn’t have your car to protect you in a collision. It’s not difficult to guess who gets the worst of it in an auto-pedestrian or auto-bicyclist collision. If you happen to be on the wrong end of such an accident, you could easily be left with debilitating injuries that could prohibit you from working, or at the very least, require extensive rehabilitation. The net financial costs of such an accident could be enormous. At least you can count on the at-fault driver’s insurance to cover them, right?
Not Everyone Has Insurance
Not so fast. Even though most states have financial responsibility laws that require motorists to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, the Insurance Information Institute reports that as recently as 2012, over 12 percent of drivers nationwide are uninsured. That means that if you’re involved in an auto-pedestrian or bicycle accident, there’s at least a one-in-10 chance the driver that hit you doesn’t have auto insurance.
Why should this matter? After all, if he or she was at fault, can’t you still go after him or her in a civil lawsuit? You certainly can, yet consider this: there’s usually a reason why he or she is not insured, and more often than not, that’s due to a lack of financial resources. So while you do have legal recourse to pursue compensation from an uninsured driver, your chances of actually collecting anything may be slim.
Why You Need Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
So what are you to do? This is where having extended coverage on your own RV/Automobile insurance policy can be helpful. Specifically, you may want to consider adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Not only does this protect you if you’re in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, but it also offers you protection if you’re struck by such a driver while walking or biking. When it comes to insurance, many tend to follow the line of thinking that if the law doesn’t require it, it’s not needed. While a handful of states have adopted legislation that makes carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance mandatory, many still only require liability coverage. Yet a lack of laws requiring this type of insurance shouldn’t lead you to overlook the need for it.
Those looking to add such coverage to their policies often share the same question: how much coverage do I need? Again, where there is no legal requirement to carry such insurance, determining a minimum amount of coverage needed may be difficult. Consider,what was mentioned earlier: collisions between vehicles and cyclists or pedestrians often produce catastrophic injuries for those not in the car. Thus, rather than going with the minimum amount of coverage, it’s recommended that you go with an amount sufficient to cover the expenses of a major injury. This can range anywhere from $100,000-$250,000 for an individual.
Who wants to gamble with the possibility that the driver who hits you while you’re driving your RV/Automobile, walking or riding your bike is not insured? Adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is the only way to guarantee yourself and family access to the financial resources needed to endure such an accident. The peace-of-mind that comes from knowing that you’re protected will make any minor increase to your insurance premiums worth it.
Call or click here today to discuss coverage options. 1-844-727-7207