One of the most upsetting and frustrating experiences that you can have on the road is being hit by a driver who doesn't have the car insurance to cover your damages. Even though having vehicle insurance is a legal responsibility in almost every state, there are times that people never buy insurance or let their coverage lapse. When this happens, the people who suffer most are usually the other people on the road. While it may seem hopeless when you get hit by an uninsured driver, there is actually a way to get your damages covered: through your own insurance policy. You just need to make sure to have the right type of coverage in place. Read on to find out about uninsured motorist coverage.

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of insurance coverage designed to cover any damages you may have when involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. This coverage, which includes both vehicle damage and personal damage, is a supplement to your regular insurance coverage and will therefore slightly raise the monthly cost of your policy. 

What About Underinsured Drivers?

In most cases, uninsured motorist coverage is bundled with underinsured coverage. It is collectively known as Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage at most insurance companies. There may be cases where a driver causes an accident while holding only the bare minimum in car insurance (usually the minimum amount legally allowed by the state.) In these cases, the damages may far exceed the amount of the insurance policy held by the responsible driver. Your Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage would pay for the difference between the responsible driver's policy limit and what your actual damages were.

Filing a Claim

Filing a claim in an accident caused by an uninsured driver works a bit differently than filing an ordinary insurance claim. It is important that you first get verification that the responsible driver does not hold insurance (or holds completely inadequate insurance.) This should occur at the scene of the accident, when the police collect insurance information from everyone involved in the accident. You will be given a police report that verifies the insurance info (or lack thereof) for the responsible driver.

With a copy of the police report in hand, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible following the accident. Even if you are still being treated for injuries and don't know the extent of your damages, you can alert them that a claim is coming. This can help the insurance company to process your claim more quickly and effectively when it's time to get your compensation.

Contact a business like Kuresman Insurance to learn more.