In the state of Mississippi, all drivers must have liability insurance to operate a motor vehicle, according to the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID). This liability coverage means that when another driver hits you and is found to be at fault for the crash, their liability insurance coverage will provide payments for your medical bills and property damage.
Theoretically, this law should help all drivers in the state, ensuring they have the financial protection they need in the unfortunate case a driver hits them and causes injuries. Unfortunately, not every driver chooses to comply with state law and carry the proper level of insurance.
If this has happened to you, seek help from a Biloxi uninsured motorist accident lawyer. At the Morris Bart law office, we understand how the rules in the state work to protect you as an injured driver. We are ready to help you seek a settlement that accounts for your losses.
For a free review of your situation, contact us at (228) 357-9621 as soon as possible.
Ensuring You Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage
According to Mississippi Senate Bill 2311 §83-11-101, all drivers in the state must have uninsured motorist coverage as part of their own auto insurance policy. This code protects you should an uninsured motorist cause an accident, leaving you with injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a Uninsured Motorist Accident lawyer serving Biloxi, call (228) 357-9621
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Works
Normally, when a negligent driver hits your car and causes injuries, you have the right to seek liability compensation from that driver’s auto insurance carrier for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. You can seek a judgment for the bills you have accumulated up to the point of the settlement, as well as a judgment for the estimated ongoing costs you will have in the future too.
However, if the other driver who caused the crash does not have any auto insurance coverage, the process becomes more complicated.
You may have to end up tapping the uninsured motorist (UM) portion of your own auto insurance policy to receive the payment you need to cover your medical costs.
How an Uninsured Motorist Attorney Can Help
You may expect that your insurance company will cover your costs and compensate you fairly. Sometimes, when your injuries are minor, and the settlement amount is small, this will occur.
However, if you have severe, debilitating injuries that may leave you unable to work well into the future, the settlement amount to which you may be entitled could be significant. You may find that your insurance company begins questioning the severity of your injuries and whether you actually should receive a large settlement.
At this point, consider contacting a Biloxi uninsured motorist accident lawyer. The team at the Morris Bart law office can work to ensure your own insurance company hears your side of the story. It may seem complicated to bring a personal injury claim against your own insurer, but a lawyer can stand by your side throughout the process. Call us at (228) 357-9621 today for a free case review.
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Violating Mississippi’s Auto Insurance Laws
Even though drivers may know they should carry liability insurance to operate a motor vehicle legally in Mississippi, some of them will violate the law and drive without insurance.
An uninsured motorist may be able to circumvent the law for several years without detection. However, it just takes one incident for that driver to make a mistake behind the wheel. Their decision to not carry liability insurance can leave victims with a more challenging road ahead.
Reasons for Not Buying Insurance
There are multiple reasons why a driver chooses to forego purchasing auto insurance, including:
- It’s too expensive
- Their driving record is too poor
- They fail to understand state law
- Their policy lapsed without notification
Some drivers may feel like they do not need to purchase insurance because they are extremely safe drivers. However, it only takes one split second for a mistake to occur that will leave the driver at fault for a crash.
Other times, a driver may think they own such an old car that it is not worth insuring. They do not realize that they can still cause costly injuries and losses to another driver in the event of an accident, regardless of the age or quality of their own car.
It is extremely important to comply with your state’s auto insurance regulations and ensure your coverage is up to date. Even if you are a great driver with a spotless record, you can not control the actions of the drivers around you. Being involved in an accident without auto insurance can be a costly mistake to make.
Other Options for Compensation
Before attempting to receive payment from your own insurance policy’s UM coverage, you and your attorney should review your injuries and the facts of your case to determine the best steps for acquiring your compensation.
In certain cases, you and your attorney may attempt to seek a claim from both the other driver’s personal finances and from your own insurance policy’s UM coverage, especially if your injuries are severe. As you can imagine, an accident where an uninsured motorist is found to be at fault can be an extremely complex case.
Contact Morris Bart, LTD for Help
According to Mississippi House Bill 1257 §15-1-49, victims in situations where another party’s negligence led to injuries have up to three years to file a personal injury claim.
That’s why at the Morris Bart law office, we encourage victims to contact a Biloxi uninsured motorist accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash. This allows our team to begin investigating the facts in the case as early as possible, while witnesses to the accident still have a clear memory of what happened and the evidence is fresh.
We then will use the facts in the case to show the insurance company that the other driver was negligent. We can fight for compensation to help cover your medical bills, pain, and suffering. Contact us for a free consultation or to get started with your case at (228) 357-9621 today.
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