If you have been reading our Fayetteville, North Carolina, personal injury law blog for a while now, you may have come to the conclusion that car accidents caused by negligent drivers occur far too often. These preventable accidents are certainly tragic if a victim suffers serious or fatal injuries, but accidents caused by negligent drivers also may cause victims and their families to suffer significant financial losses.
In North Carolina, motorists are required to carry auto insurance in order to protect others from suffering serious financial losses in the event of a collision. Unfortunately, not all drivers carry auto insurance and some motorists do not carry enough insurance to cover all of the damages of a serious accident.
There are many reasons why Fayetteville motorists are not properly insured. One of the most common reasons why individuals choose not to purchase auto insurance is because they think that they cannot afford it and that they will not need it. Others only purchase the minimum amount of coverage because they do not understand just how costly damages can be.
One insurance agent commented that even though an individual may think that he or she is properly insured by purchasing insurance based on the state’s minimum requirements, a state’s minimum coverage requirements oftentimes are not enough to cover all of the damages after an accident, especially severe bodily injuries.
When an individual is injured or killed in a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Fayetteville, the victim and his or her family may suddenly become overwhelmed from the stress of not knowing how medical expenses, property damage, lost wages or funeral expenses will be paid for.
Fortunately, accident victims and their families do have important rights that should be protected if they are injured or killed in an accident. In order to make certain that a victim is properly compensated for any damages or injuries resulting from an accident that was caused by a negligent driver, the victim may want to consider speaking with an attorney who understands the complex nature of accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Source: KTVO, “How to protect yourself from uninsured motorists,” Stephanie Claytor, Nov. 28, 2011