Getting struck by an uninsured driver can be overwhelming and expensive. The other driver’s insurance won’t cover your car repairs or provide a rental vehicle — but there are still steps you can take to recover your costs and protect your rights.
Get Help and Call the Police
Even if the other driver claims they don’t have insurance, that may not be true. If the vehicle belongs to someone else, there could still be coverage under the owner’s insurance policy. Remember, car insurance typically follows the vehicle, not the individual driver.
When police arrive at the scene, they will gather the necessary information to identify whether the car is insured. If coverage details aren’t clear immediately, you can follow up with the police department afterward to confirm whether the vehicle had an active insurance policy at the time of the accident.
Find Out What’s Covered
Many drivers forget what coverage they have or aren’t sure what their policies mean. Call your insurance company — they can explain your coverage and next steps.
By law, Minnesota drivers must carry at least the following coverage:
- $30,000 in liability insurance
- $25,000 in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- No-fault coverage to pay for medical expenses and wage loss, regardless of fault
Collision coverage pays for vehicle damage when another policy won’t, while comprehensive coverage applies to non-collision incidents (such as flood or theft). If you use your own insurance for an uninsured driver accident, remember that you’ll still be responsible for your deductible.
Ask the At-Fault Driver to Help Pay for Your Damages
If you don’t have collision coverage and don’t want to cover your deductible alone, you can ask the at-fault driver to contribute. Even a partial payment can help ease the financial burden of an accident they caused.
If they refuse to cooperate, you may consider filing a lawsuit in small claims court (also called conciliation court). Be sure to notify your insurance company if you take this route — they also have a right to recover funds they paid toward your claim.
Keep in mind: if you sue the at-fault driver for property damage, you generally cannot later file a separate lawsuit for pain and suffering related to the same incident.
Having Your Own Insurance Helps — But Doesn’t Solve Everything
Uninsured motorist coverage, which you already pay for as part of your policy, helps cover medical expenses, wage loss, and pain and suffering. Your no-fault insurance will handle many immediate costs, but it has limits. If your expenses exceed those limits, your underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap.
While your insurer won’t account for how reckless the other driver was, they will provide compensation and later pursue reimbursement from the at-fault party. This means you can get paid sooner while your insurance company handles recovery efforts behind the scenes.
Contact Us
If you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver, call or text the car accident lawyers at 612-INJURED at (612) 465-8733. We’ll review your situation and help you understand your legal options for recovering compensation.