Long Island Uninsured Accident Lawyer

When a driver who doesn’t have insurance causes your crash, recovering full compensation for your damages becomes a lot more difficult. Let a Long Island uninsured accident attorney make it easier.

If you’re like most responsible drivers on New York roads, you probably have an active personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy to protect you in the event of a collision. It is the law, after all.

Unfortunately, some drivers believe they are above the law and may not have this crucial policy. Or they simply may not be able to afford the necessary policy limits, so they continue to drive while underinsured.

In either case, should you find yourself in an accident with one of these drivers, recovering the compensation you’re owed can be incredibly difficult. Luckily, there are options available to you to ensure you aren’t responsible for covering the costs of any damages or injuries out of pocket.

To learn more about your options, get in touch with a Long Island uninsured accident lawyer at Siler & Ingber, LLP.

What Is an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist?

By law, you are required to have a PIP insurance policy to operate a vehicle in New York. Those who drive without a policy or who have a policy with minimal coverage options can be broken down into two categories, respectively: uninsured and underinsured motorists.

An uninsured motorist is, as the name implies, someone without any insurance. It may be that he or she never purchased a policy in the first place, or it might be that his or her policy was expired at the time of your collision.

An underinsured motorist is someone who does have an active policy in place. However, the amount of coverage this driver has is as low as possible. In some cases, underinsured drivers may not even carry anything past the state-required liability insurance coverage.

How No-Fault Rules Affect Long Island Uninsured Accident Claims

Because New York is a no-fault state, drivers in Long Island must first turn to their own insurance company after a crash. Insurers must cover your damages up to the limits of your policy, regardless of who caused your accident. The state of New York also sets limits on PIP insurance coverage.

If you must seek compensation from your own insurer, why would it matter if the other driver in your Long Island crash was uninsured or underinsured. It won’t matter unless you exceed your policy limits or the limits set by state law.

A few days in the hospital or even a relatively minor chronic injury could easily send you flying past the limits of your insurance policy. Then what? You file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

In such scenarios, the other driver’s insurance company would usually have to cover your damages. So when the driver is uninsured, your Long Island uninsured car accident lawyer will likely file your claim for compensation directly against the at-fault driver.

Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim

There is another possibility. Some insurance policies come equipped with policies meant to kick in in the event of an uninsured motorist accident. However, getting the insurance company to cooperate with you in these events can be difficult, which is why having an uninsured accident lawyer in Long Island can be so helpful.

To file an uninsured motorist claim, your attorney will need to prove that the at-fault driver didn’t have sufficient insurance coverage at the time of the collision.

Contact a Long Island Uninsured Accident Attorney Today

If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, the team at Siler & Ingber, LLP is here for you. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you gather proof and get the compensation you deserve.

To schedule a free consultation with a Long Island uninsured accident lawyer, give us a call at 1-516-294-2666 or fill out our online contact form below.