What Happens if Someone Hits Me and They Do Not Have Car Insurance?
No-fault auto insurance helps to protect you against uninsured drivers in Michigan.
Car accidents in Michigan can cause major property damages and potentially life-threatening personal injuries. They often happen due to the reckless actions of other motorists involved. You have the right to hold them liable for your losses, but what happens if they are uninsured? At Hartman Insurance Agency, Inc., our Michigan auto insurance agents explain why having no-fault coverage is important and how it can help protect you.
Michigan No-Fault Insurance Laws Can Help Protect Against Uninsured Drivers
According to the state Traffic Crash Reporting Unit, nearly 300,000 car accidents in Michigan happen yearly. In addition to causing extensive property damages, these can leave you and your passengers suffering severe personal injuries. Auto insurance helps to prevent out-of-pocket costs. Michigan is one of a number of states to mandate all motorists purchase no-fault auto insurance policies.
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services advises that no-fault insurance can reduce disputes over legal liability, the high costs of car accident lawsuits, and out-of-pocket costs when a crash happens. Policies required that help protect you include:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This offsets your medical expenses and compensates for lost income if you are involved in a crash.
- Property Protection Insurance (PPI): This pays up to $1 million for property damages you cause to others in a crash but does not cover the cost to repair or place your vehicle.
- Bodily Injury Liability Insurance (BI): This can help protect you against being sued for a car accident in Michigan, but only applies in limited situations.
Coverage required under Michigan no-fault insurance laws can help reduce out-of-pocket costs in a car accident involving an uninsured driver. However, purchasing only the required minimum amounts will still leave you facing major expenses.
Protect Yourself Against Uninsured Car Accidents in Michigan
Under Michigan Vehicle Administration (MVA) guidelines, there are harsh penalties for driving without insurance. Motorists can face heavy fines, suspension of their vehicle registration, and loss of their driver’s license. They can also be held liable for damages other motorists suffer in the event of a crash. However, taking them to court and getting an eventual settlement is a long and complicated process.
You can protect yourself by investing in an adequate amount of insurance. With No-Fault Reform in July 2020, you are no longer mandated to carry Unlimited PIP in Michigan, but we highly recommend you keep it. Lower limits are available but these amounts often fall short of actual costs. Our Michigan auto insurance agents can assist you in increasing coverage levels and adding personal property protection while keeping premium costs low.
Contact Our Michigan Auto Insurance Agents
Hartman Insurance has been proudly meeting the needs of motorists and property owners in the Saline and Ann Arbor area since 1946. We provide trusted guidance in putting needed policies in place. To ensure you and your loved ones are protected, call or contact us online today.