Dealing with the aftermath of a vehicular accident can be overwhelming, especially if you have suffered life-threatening injuries or grave material damages. If the other party is uninsured, the case becomes even more problematic. Besides the general legalities that follow an accident, you will still have to worry about whether you will get compensated for your damages if the other driver caused the accident. Here are some tips on what to do if you are dealing with an uninsured motorist in order to file and win your claim successfully.

What You Shouldn’t Do

No matter how overwhelmed you feel, there are two things you should never do immediately after an accident because these can prevent you from receiving compensation. For one, you should never accept fault for anything right away. If you do, your insurance will automatically have to pay for the other party’s damages as well as your own. Avoid saying sorry, even accidentally, as this can be construed as an admission of guilt which could potentially prevent you from winning a compensation claim.

Uninsured drivers face enormous fees if they cause an accident, which is why they will try to avoid it at any costs. They will probably offer some small compensation for you at the scene in exchange for you not filing an official claim later. While this might be tempting to accept, doing that is not recommended. Even if your injury or material damage doesn’t seem serious at that time, the full consequences of an accident surface weeks and sometimes even months later.

What You Should Do

Regardless of either party’s injuries or damages, your first step after an accident should be calling the police. Insurance companies will require you to have official documentation of the incident. When filing a claim against the other motorist, the official police report will be your most crucial proof of your innocence. Besides documenting the accident, the police officers will also be able to assist you in gathering evidence. Taking photos and getting the other motorist’s information is also crucial. Unfortunately, an uninsured driver might be less than cooperative with these, and having the police there can be helpful. Another vital piece of information you will need when filing an insurance claim is proof of your injuries. For this reason, you should always ask for immediate medical evaluation at the scene of the accident. You should also get treated for any injuries as soon as possible.

After you have gathered all the information you will need for filing an insurance claim, contact your own insurance company to proceed with the claim. Or better yet, an attorney to help you file your case. While dealing with any type of accident is difficult, bikers in Texas are often deemed at fault by default. If you are from the Houston area, you should be familiar with the steps to take following a motorcycle accident, so you can file an insurance claim successfully. Knowing all this can be particularly helpful if the other party was at fault, and is uninsured, which makes your case even more challenging than most. The other party might protest some of the steps to avoid the consequences they face as an uninsured motorist; however, you should still insist on going through them.

Additional Steps You Can Take

Personal insurance and insurance for your vehicle can take off many worries from your shoulders, especially if you live in a state where no-fault laws are implemented. Because with this law, each motorist’s own insurance company is responsible for covering their client, so even if the accident was your fault and the other party is uninsured, you won’t be liable for their costs.

If you are from a state where this law isn’t implemented, it’s a good idea to assure you will still be covered. Having uninsured motorist coverage can be helpful if you suffered an accident caused by an uninsured driver. With this type of insurance, you will be protected if your medical or vehicle repair costs exceed your insurance, regardless of whether the other driver is insured or not. Even without this protection, you may still be able to obtain compensation by filing a lawsuit against the driver at fault, their vehicle’s manufacturer, or whoever else might have contributed to the accident.

Although it’s mandatory in several states, many motorists choose not to pay for even the basic liability insurance. Consequently, filing a compensation claim against them in a case of an accident is much more difficult. However, it’s important for you to know that there are still things you can do to protect yourself before and after an accident as well. Therefore, refer to this guide to help you to deal with uninsured motorists and avoid some additional headaches.