As a responsible adult, you carry liability insurance on your vehicle, possibly much more than what the state requires. You may also engage in defensive driving tactics so that you don’t have to worry so much about getting hurt in a car crash.
The sad truth is that even safety-minded drivers can end up hurt in a collision caused by irresponsible drivers. It only takes one person’s mistake to negatively impact many others nearby on the road. You could face serious financial hardship if someone without an active motor vehicle insurance policy causes a crash that hurts you, injures your passengers or leave your vehicle inoperable.
As of 2019, the most recent year with an industry analysis available, Oklahoma had 13.4% of its drivers out on the roads without mandatory insurance coverage. Overall, Oklahoma ranks 18th in the country in terms of the percentage of drivers without insurance. What can you do now to protect yourself from the financial devastation an uninsured driver could cause you?
Review and upgrade your insurance policy
For those who have the foresight to think about the risk of a driver without insurance causing a crash, there are insurance options available for their protection. Drivers in Oklahoma have a legal requirement to carry liability coverage, but they also have the option of adding more protection to their insurance policies.
You can add uninsured motorist protection that takes effect if the driver at fault for a crash does not have coverage. You might also want to consider underinsured motorist protection, which increases the insurance coverage available to you if the other driver has a low limit on their policy.
Know your legal rights after a crash
The driver without insurance is in violation of state law. If they are to blame for the collision that you experienced, you may be able to hold them accountable for all of your expenses in civil court. The stronger the proof that they were to blame for the crash, the more likely you are to be successful when making a claim for compensation because you lost wages, had to repair your vehicle or required medical care.
Understanding the systems that protect you after a significant car crash can help you seek financial justice after a wreck.