What Happens If You Are An Injured Passenger in an Uninsured Car?

A car crash can happen in an instant. If you’re a passenger in someone else’s car, you may not know until after the collision whether or not the driver had insurance coverage. If you’re dealing with severe injuries, managing the issues that may arise with an uninsured driver can feel overwhelming. 

When a car is uninsured, securing the compensation you need to cover your medical bills and other expenses can be difficult. Yet you may still have options. South Carolina law requires motorists to carry coverage to address situations like these. After an uninsured accident, your own policy or another driver’s policy may apply to help provide the compensation you need. Speak to an experienced South Carolina uninsured car accident lawyer today to learn more. 

Does my insurance cover me if I’m a passenger in another car?

If the car or driver you were riding with doesn’t have insurance, the first place to turn is your own auto insurance coverage. Your South Carolina auto insurance policy may cover your needs even if the driver you were riding with has no insurance. 

Benefits that may be available under your insurance include:

• Payment for medical costs. Insurance to cover your medical bills (MedPay) is typically included in auto insurance policies. You may have access to coverage up to the limits of your policy.
• MedPay. While some states provide personal injury protection (PIP) benefits to pay for lost wages and certain other losses after a crash, South Carolina does not. Instead, there is MedPay, which can help cover medical and funeral expenses.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Also known as UM/UIM coverage, this insurance helps address costs if a crash involves an at-fault driver with no insurance coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required in South Carolina, while underinsured coverage is optional. 

Even if you were riding with an uninsured driver, your driver may not be at fault for the crash. If another driver or party is at fault, you may have access to insurance coverage through that party’s policy as well. 

Like your policy, the insurance policy for an at-fault driver may cover medical bills, personal injury protection benefits, and uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits. South Carolina law requires drivers to carry minimum coverage for injuries in car accidents of $25,000 per person or $50,000 per incident, as well as a minimum of $25,000 for property damage following a crash. 

South Carolina requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage but does not require underinsured motorist coverage. UIM coverage for another at-fault driver can become a crucial source of compensation. 

What should I do after an accident? 

As with any crash, the first step is to make sure everyone involved is safe and to seek medical help. Call 911 for emergency help after a crash. If possible, gather the names and contact information of people involved in the accident.

If there are any witnesses, gather their contact information as well. As soon as you can, take photos, make notes, or draw a diagram to keep track of what you remember about how the accident occurred. Also, secure a copy of the police report. 

Check your own auto policy coverage limits and declarations, then reach out to an experienced car accident attorney at the Steinberg Law Firm. Your attorney can communicate with insurance companies, gather evidence, and fight for the compensation you need so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. 

Who can help me if I’m injured as a passenger in an uninsured accident?

If you’re injured in an accident, speak to an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Reach out to our team of attorneys even if you’re unsure about whether the driver was insured or if anyone else involved in the crash has auto insurance. The sooner you reach out to an experienced attorney, the sooner you can receive the information you need to make an informed decision about what to do next. 

At the Steinberg Law Firm, our attorneys are dedicated to helping our clients figure out what happened and fight for the compensation you deserve. To speak to one of our car accident attorneys, contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.