Liability for a car crash primarily relates to fault for a collision. The party that causes a wreck typically needs to reimburse anyone else affected for property damage losses and expenses related to injuries.
Oklahoma state law mandates liability coverage so that people can drive without worrying about financial hardship in the event of a collision.
Many drivers choose to add extra coverage to their policies to protect them in a broader range of circumstances. Uninsured motorist coverage is a popular form of supplemental insurance coverage. People worried that they could end up in a wreck caused by someone without insurance can expand their own coverage to protect themselves from that exact scenario.
Uninsured motorist coverage can help pay to repair someone’s vehicle and cover medical expenses after a hit-and-run crash or any other collision caused by someone without an active insurance policy. Uninsured motorist coverage can give people better protection if a crash occurs. If someone needs to use that coverage, do their policy premiums increase?
Premium increases are likely
If someone is at fault for a crash and the other party files a significant insurance claim, the driver at fault for the wreck can anticipate a significant increase in their insurance premium. However, if someone must use their own uninsured motorist coverage, they likely are not the party at fault for the wreck.
They might assume that they could file a claim without increased insurance costs, but that typically is not the case. The unfortunate truth is that an uninsured motorist claim after it crash typically increases what people pay for insurance. On average, people may see their annual premium increase by $98. However, the extent of the claim and the type of coverage someone has may influence how much their premium increases as each case is unique.
The other driver is still liable
Even if someone does not have the insurance required by state law, they are typically still liable for any crash that they cause. The other people affected by the collision may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit when the party at fault for the wreck cannot provide adequate insurance coverage.
People should not have to accept the losses another driver causes through irresponsible conduct, including increased insurance costs. Knowing the potential impact that a crash might have on someone’s life could help them choose the best path forward after a collision.
