What Happens If You're Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Pennsylvania?

Most drivers expect that if they're involved in a car accident, the other driver's insurance will help cover the damages. But that isn't always the case.

Despite Pennsylvania law requiring drivers to carry auto insurance, some motorists get behind the wheel without coverage. If you're hit by an uninsured driver, you may be left wondering how you'll pay for medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other expenses.

And that's exactly why the insurance coverage you choose before an accident matters so much. Uninsured motorist coverage may be the protection you're left relying on when the person who caused the crash has no insurance to help you.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is designed to help protect you if you're injured in an accident caused by a driver who doesn't have liability insurance.

While Pennsylvania drivers are offered uninsured motorist coverage when purchasing auto insurance, they can choose to decline it in writing. If you've elected to carry this coverage, it may help pay for damages related to your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance.

Think of it this way: liability coverage protects other people if you cause an accident. Uninsured motorist coverage helps protect you when someone else causes an accident and has no insurance to answer for the harm they've caused.

There is no guarantee that an uninsured driver will have the personal assets to compensate you, and there is no state fund that simply steps in and pays your losses. Your own UM coverage may be the only meaningful source of compensation available.

That's why this isn't coverage to brush past when you're buying or renewing a policy. Talk with your insurance agent about your UM coverage and make sure you understand how much protection you're actually carrying before you ever need it.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

The steps you take immediately after a crash can help protect both your health and any future insurance claim.

If you're hit by an uninsured driver in Pennsylvania, you should:

• Call 911 and report the accident.
• Seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor.
• Get the other driver's contact, license and insurance information, and photograph it if possible.
• Take photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, and the accident scene.
• Obtain contact information from any witnesses.
• Notify your own insurance company as soon as possible.

Keeping detailed records can make it easier to support an uninsured motorist claim later

Will Your Insurance Cover Your Injuries?

It depends on the coverage included in your policy.

Pennsylvania follows a no-fault insurance system, which means your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also called first-party medical benefits, may help cover certain medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident. These first-party medical benefits are focused on medical expenses; they do not compensate you for pain and suffering.

If you've also purchased uninsured motorist coverage, you may be able to seek compensation for additional losses resulting from the accident. This is where the decision you made when you bought your policy can become incredibly important. If the driver who injured you has no liability insurance, you can't go back after the accident and add UM coverage. The protection has to be in place beforehand.

Because every policy is different, reviewing your coverage carefully is an important step after any collision involving an uninsured driver.

Can You Sue an Uninsured Driver?

Legal action against the at-fault driver is possible, but may not be practical. Many uninsured drivers lack significant financial assets, which can make recovering compensation directly from them difficult even if you obtain a judgment.

That's exactly why uninsured motorist coverage matters. If the at-fault driver has no insurance and no meaningful assets to recover from, your own UM coverage may be the only protection standing between you and those losses.

An attorney can help determine whether pursuing the driver directly makes sense and what other coverage may be available.

Why Choose Slusser Law Firm?

Getting into an accident is bad enough. Finding out the person who caused the crash has no insurance to pay for the damage makes it worse.

Your own insurance policy may provide coverage, but that does not mean your insurance company will make the process easy. They still have a financial interest in limiting what they pay.

The attorneys at Slusser Law Firm dig into the policy, the coverage, and the facts of the crash to find every available source of compensation and push back when an insurer tries to pay less than the claim is worth.

You paid for protection. You should be able to use it when you need it. If you were injured by an uninsured driver, call Slusser Law Firm at (570) 453-0463 for a free consultation. Contact us today.