The biggest headache after a car accident can be convincing your insurance company to pay up. If you are in a car accident that was not your fault, you will have to deal with the other driver’s insurance company in some capacity.
However, as much as 15 percent of Missouri drivers are not current on their minimum auto insurance obligations. So, what if another driver, who was at-fault for the accident you were involved in, does not have an active insurance policy? You may still get the money you deserve, but the process might get more complicated.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
By law, Missouri drivers must carry uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. That means you could be covered up to $25,000 for expenses related to the injuries you sustained in the crash if you were the only person who was injured.
Missouri motorists are eligible to file an uninsured motorist claim with their own insurance company when the person or entity at fault for the accident did not have insurance coverage on the date of the accident. Additionally, victims of hit-and-run accidents are often able to recover from their uninsured motorist policy. However, you may not benefit from your uninsured motorist insurance if you were riding in another car that was not insured.
What if Your Insurance is not Enough?
Expenses can add up quickly in catastrophic accidents, and medical bills alone can easily blow past the minimum limits. You usually have the option of suing the uninsured driver and going after their personal assets in such situations. However, uninsured drivers often do not have ample funds to satisfy a judgment from a lawsuit.
One potential solution is policy stacking. This allows policyholders to use multiple policies of the same type if they insure more than one vehicle. For instance, having the $50,000 minimum might not be enough to cover medical expenses after a serious accident involving multiple injured victims. If you have three vehicles insured by the same insurance provider–each with the minimum uninsured limit–you may be able to “stack” such policies for total coverage up to $150,000.
Hire an Attorney to Fight for You
Uninsured motorist coverage can get complicated, particularly when it pertains to issues of stacking. For this reason, it is always a good idea to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to review all insurance policies.
Our team has helped hundreds of Missouri drivers get the compensation they deserve, and we would be honored to help deliver the same justice for you.