Alaska law requires vehicle owners to have auto insurance policies. Unfortunately, many drivers do not have enough coverage or worse, fail to have any insurance at all. A study by the Insurance Research Council found 13 percent of U.S. drivers in 2015 had no car insurance – in Alaska, the rate was 15.4 percent.
An at-fault driver’s insurer typically pays for damages in crashes. Some states require car owners carry additional coverage in case an automobile accident occurs due to an uninsured or underinsured driver. The same coverage can cover personal and property damage due to hit-and-run collisions.
Get Treatment
The steps to follow are similar whether after an accident with an insured or uninsured driver. Medical needs are a priority for you and anyone else who has been injured. Call for help and provide aid if necessary.
Contact The Police
Report the accident to the police. Having an officer on the scene can support the facts you supply with an insurance claim. Uninsured drivers may be reluctant to identify themselves, since a lack of car insurance is a criminal offense. Exchanging information with the other driver and gathering witness information may be easier when an officer is present.
Take Photos
Use a cellphone to take pictures of the accident scene, the damage to the vehicles and your injuries from several angles, if possible. Contact your insurer in a timely manner and find out if your insurance includes underinsured and uninsured driver coverage. This added insurance takes over when an underinsured driver’s insurance is depleted, or a driver has no insurance.
In some cases, personal injury protection and collision coverage in your auto insurance policy may help pay for some expenses, including medical payments.
Following an accident, it’s important to call the police, exchange information between drivers, take pictures of the damage, and get medical treatment as soon as possible.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Uninsured Motorists”
