We have all seen the cliché fender bender on television, or in real life, where one of the first things the drivers do after checking on those involved is exchange insurance. Liability insurance is one of the basic requirements to register a vehicle under the Vehicle Responsibility Act, which serves the purpose of protecting individuals whose property and person have been harmed during an accident. Given the significant costs associated with motor vehicle accidents, liability insurance will cover the costs that the person at fault would have otherwise been responsible to pay. This helps to safeguard victims of accidents because not everyone can afford to buy someone a new car or pay their medical bills out of pocket. If a driver loses their coverage at any time, they are supposed to surrender their registration and plates until the insurance is reinstated. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and people without insurance have wrecks too. In fact, it is so common that North Carolina makes it mandatory for insurance companies to offer underinsured and, effective January 1, 2025, uninsured motorist coverage (UMI or UM) to their customers.
Auto accidents happen every day. They are not planned, and they cannot be predicted. Accidents can be scary, painful, and cause significant disruption to your daily life. It is rare that these accidents do not result in at least minor damage to a vehicle. Depending on the damage, you could be without your vehicle for extended periods while it is being repaired, or you might have to buy a new car entirely if the vehicle is a total loss. This is not accounting for the hassle of getting estimates, filing reports, and dealing insurance adjusters.
Taking the vehicle out of the equation, physical injuries and emotional trauma resulting from accidents can also lead to expenses you might not be prepared for. In these situations, it is common that you must foot the bill for those costs, endure loss of income to attend appointments, and recover fully from your injuries before recouping that money through an insurance company. But what if the person responsible for the accident does not have insurance? What if they do, and the insurance does not cover all the costs? Lastly, what if the accident is a hit and run? Who is going to pay for all of this?
In a situation where someone at fault is not partially or fully covered by insurance, be it lapse or otherwise, the only legal solution is to sue the person who did the damage. This can be a costly, time-consuming, and ineffective route because there is no guarantee that the person without insurance will have the ability to pay the money awarded once the lawsuit is over. Even worse, if the accident is a hit and run, the driver may never be identified and held accountable, leaving you with no way of recovering for the damage. It is these situations that make uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage something that everyone should have. This type of coverage can provide a secondary or supplemental source of recovery through your own insurance coverage, giving you peace of mind that even if you did not plan the accident to happen, you are prepared.
It is important to remember that even with these types of coverage, you will have to deal with insurance adjusters that are trained to minimize the payouts you receive for reimbursement. After an accident, you might not know what documents to save or how to account for expenses in relation to your injuries. You may not even know the extent to which you can be compensated either. For these reasons, personal injury attorneys can come in very handy in guiding you through the process and ensuring you are getting what you paid for.
At King Law Offices, we have experienced personal injury attorneys that do these types of cases every day. They know your rights, and they know how to prepare and guide you throughout the process of your recovery. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, it is important to act quickly and seek legal assistance. We understand the sensitivity and complexity of these situations and are here to help. Contact King Law Offices today at (888) 748-KING (5464) for a consultation.