Call 911 immediately and request emergency assistance. If you don't have uninsured motorist insurance, your only option may be to personally seek compensation from the uninsured driver. Unlike PIP benefits, UM coverage only applies if another driver is responsible for the accident. If so, you can file a claim for your economic losses, such as medical care and lost wages.
Uninsured or underinsured motorist insurers may impose additional terms and restrictions on when and how covered people can access benefits. The benefits cover the people listed in the policy (even if you were a pedestrian at the time of the accident) and any injured passengers in the covered vehicle if the at-fault driver cannot cover their liability. However, health insurance can at least reduce some of the costs of trying to deal with a devastating accident. After an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist, insurers can use the phrase “ghost vehicle” to describe any unidentified vehicle involved in the incident.
If you were seriously injured in an accident, you may have incurred tens of thousands of dollars in medical care and lost your salary. After accidents in Seattle that involved uninsured or underinsured motorists, understanding your options plays an important role in recovery. Whether you were rear-ended on SR 500, hit sideways on I-5, hit in T in Chkalov, or were involved in a head-on accident on Highway 14, it's reasonable to assume that the at-fault driver's insurance company will simply pay your medical bills and other expenses related to the accident (damages). While state laws require all drivers to have minimum amounts of liability insurance, many drivers continue to put other people's lives and future at risk.
Cases of uninsured or underinsured motorists often involve lengthy investigations and negotiations about insurance. For those who comply with state insurance laws, the data reveals an important idea: investing in coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers can make the difference between relying on medical insurance and receiving the benefits of car insurance after an accident with an insolvent driver. However, fewer restrictions don't mean that victims of car accidents have an easy time seeking compensation. When an at-fault driver flees the scene of an accident and cannot be located, the driver could be considered an uninsured driver for insurance purposes.
Filing a lawsuit against an uninsured driver may be another option available to you, but it's often not ideal because, even if you get a judgment in your favor, it's unlikely that the person at fault will be able to pay or comply with the sentence. If an injured driver can prove that the phantom vehicle caused the incident using eyewitness information or another form of acceptable evidence, coverage for uninsured or underinsured drivers may cover the resulting injuries. If that compensation doesn't cover the full cost of your losses, underinsured motorist coverage will apply to supplement the at-fault driver's compensation. Washington is a state of pure comparative fault, meaning that a victim can still file a claim if they are partially at fault for causing an accident; however, their compensation will be reduced proportionately depending on their percentage of fault.