You take for granted that your safe driving record means you will reach your destination without any issues. Of course, you have no control over if the driver across the intersection from you decides to text at the wheel. No matter how cautious you may be, a crash could occur because of the bad decisions made by other drivers.
Even the prospect of a crash by another driver may not seem like a huge concern. After all, Arizona state law requires that every driver carried liability insurance. You likely assume that you can make a claim for property damage expenses and injuries after a crash. However, you should not ignore the very real risk of getting into a collision caused by a driver who doesn’t have insurance.
How many uninsured drivers are on the Arizona roads?
Although it is against the law to drive without valid insurance, a surprising number of people still do it. In fact, research by the Insurance Information Institute indicates that more than one in 10 drivers in Arizona likely doesn’t have valid insurance on their vehicle.
As of 2019, the most recent year with an industry analysis available, Arizona had a relatively average rate of uninsured drivers when compared with the rest of the country. Roughly 11.8% of drivers did not have coverage in 2019.
What happens to you if one of the irresponsible drivers causes a crash?
You may be able to rely on your own policy. Unfortunately, your liability coverage won’t do much to protect you after a crash caused by someone else. The required coverage under Arizona state law is liability protection for when you are the one who caused the collision. If the other driver is to blame, their policy will typically pay.
If you invested extra insurance and have uninsured motorist protection, you could make a claim against your policy for the expenses that insurance would typically cover. Your uninsured motorist policy might pay for the cost to replace or repair your vehicle. It can cover your hospital bills and even replace the wages you didn’t earn while undergoing medical treatment for your injuries.
As the policyholder, you will likely have to pay a higher premium in the future after making a claim against your own coverage. If you want to avoid those expenses, then the best option may be to take the other driver to civil court. Such lawsuits can reimburse someone after a crash caused by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or someone who has insurance but not enough to pay all of the costs caused by the crash.
Identifying and addressing risk factors that can complicate motor vehicle collisions will protect you out on the Arizona roads.