Car accidents can change your life in an instant. Being involved in a Pennsylvania car accident is stressful enough without discovering that the driver who caused the crash has no insurance. Unfortunately, uninsured motorists can create an additional layer of difficulty when an injured person is trying to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, and other losses. Many wonder, “What if the driver who hit you has no insurance in Pennsylvania?”
Fortunately, being hit by an uninsured driver does not necessarily mean you have no way to recover compensation. Pennsylvania requires automobile insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, and this coverage may provide an important source of compensation after a crash. A Pennsylvania car accident attorney at Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, can sort out the issue and explore your options.
Facts About Car Insurance in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance. This includes specific minimums for common types of damage, including:
- $5,000 minimum for medical benefits
- $15,000 per person or $30,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
- $5,000 minimum for property damage coverage
These benefit packages can provide some valuable resources if you are involved in an accident, even if the other driver is at fault and uninsured. Pennsylvania law also specifies that insurance policies may include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, though the purchase of these additional protections is optional.
If the driver who hits you has no insurance, you may have some recourse through your own insurance policy. However, if you need to seek additional damages, it’s important to hire a car accident lawyer. Recovering a settlement can make up the difference in your costs and what your insurance covered.
What Damages Could You Potentially Recover?
The main damages you can recover are those that involve bodily injuries and the struggles that result from them. These commonly include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost income
- Future medical expenses
- Other covered economic losses
- Certain non-economic damages when legally available
The amount you can recover depends on your policy limits and the circumstances of the claim. Pennsylvania currently has about 10.2 million licensed drivers. Unfortunately, some of them are not insured. Some people choose not to purchase insurance despite the requirement due to the cost. Others may be unaware that their insurance has expired, but even a small miscalculation about coverage dates can leave them, and anyone they have a collision with, vulnerable.
While you may feel frustrated and confused if you are struck by an uninsured motorist, you have options.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Whether your accident was minor or serious, or whether it involved an insured or uninsured motorist, legal help is available. Bowers Fawcett & Hurst, LLC, brings the credentials you can feel confident in, including:
- 45 years of combined legal experience
- Many positive reviews for our diligent work
- A detailed understanding of car accident laws
We offer free consultations for personal injury victims and operate on a contingency model, so we only get paid if we recover damages for you. Reach out today to learn how we may help with your car accident claim.
