After an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, remain calm and do not admit fault. Collect evidence from the scene of the accident, such as photographs of the crash and the names and information of all involved parties and eyewitnesses. Call the police if your crash caused any injuries or property damage exceeding $1,000. Get the name of the police officer and your report number. If the other driver has auto insurance, take down the name of the insurer and the policy number.
Seek immediate medical care for your injuries. Keep copies of your medical documents and bills. Once you are on the mend, contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company to report the accident. If the insurance company accepts your claim, it will give you an amount it can cover based on the at-fault driver’s policy. If the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance, your own policy will pick up the remaining balance. You will start your claim with your own company if the at-fault driver does not have insurance at all.
Your own insurance policy will cover damages from an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) accident if you have this type of coverage. UM/UIM coverage is optional in Ohio. Most auto insurance companies make policyholders specifically reject this type of coverage. If you are not sure if you have UM/UIM insurance, speak to your insurance agent to find out. If you do not have this coverage, a personal injury claim may be your only other option for accident compensation.