When you are involved in a car accident in Ohio and it was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver. The state has a mandatory insurance law that requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance. However, as we well know at Mezibov Butler, this does not stop people from driving without insurance. Therefore, it is possible that one day you could be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
If you have an insurance policy with uninsured motorist coverage, then you should contact your insurance company because your policy may provide you some coverage up front. This can be very helpful before you have a chance to speak with an attorney and go to court. However, even if you do sue the other driver, you may be unable to get any compensation. This is not because the court will not rule that they have to pay, though.
According to Insurance Zebra, one reason most people drive without insurance is because they cannot afford it. If they cannot afford an insurance policy, then the chances are good they will not have the means to pay any court-ordered damages.
Uninsured motorist coverage may be your best defense against uninsured drivers. You should not worry about making a claim because most insurance companies will not raise your rates if you were not at fault in the collision as long as you make an uninsured claim. If you make a claim against your own collision insurance, then the insurance company can raise your rates because it would be able to consider you as the responsible party. To learn more, visit our page about auto accidents.