At just 5.3%, New York State has one of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. Even so, this figure means that there are still over half a million uninsured drivers in the state, including over 180,000 in New York City and more than 20,000 in the Bronx alone. What happens if you are injured in a car accident in the Bronx, and the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Fortunately, there are options available to help you with your medical bills and other costs. I am Bronx personal injury lawyer Kevin Kohn, and I can help you navigate New York’s complicated insurance and legal systems when you have been injured in an accident involving an uninsured driver.
Every New York driver is required by law to carry liability insurance at a minimum of $25,000 per person up to $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and at least $10,000 for property damage. If the driver who hit you nevertheless did not have insurance, you can still make a claim through the Uninsured Motorist coverage on your own liability policy. If you have a basic policy in New York, then you also have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage in the same amounts as the liability coverage you are carrying. UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver is uninsured or leaves the scene of the accident without exchanging information with you, such as in a hit and run car accident.
While it is great that you have coverage available, UM cases are not as simple and straightforward as they seem. You will find that you still have to deal with an insurance company, and even though it is “your” insurance company, their interest is to pay as little on your claim as possible, which is directly opposite your need to be fully compensated. And without the involvement of the other driver and his or her vehicle, it can be harder to prove that your injuries were caused by the crash you describe.
We can also help you if the other driver was insured but only carried the minimum 25/50/10 liability amounts, and your damages exceed these basic levels. Your UM coverage also includes Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, which can help make up the difference if your policy limits are higher than the other driver’s. There may be other ways to go after the negligent driver as well. At the Kohn Law Firm, we explore all possible avenues to get you the compensation you need after a serious car accident in the Bronx.
There is even help available when you are injured in an accident and you yourself don’t have no-fault or personal injury protection insurance to pay any of your medical bills. It is possible to get no-fault benefits by making a claim to New York’s Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC), but you must act quickly, because strict time limits and procedures apply to MVAIC claims. Also, you will still have to deal with adjusters and insurance company tactics, so let us help you through the process of getting benefits.
If you have been hit by an uninsured driver in a car accident in the Bronx, call the uninsured accident lawyers of Kohn Law Firm at 718-409-1200 or contact us online to schedule a no-cost, confidential consultation. We’ll help you get the compensation you need after a serious crash.
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