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When an Uninsured Driver Causes an Accident

The state of Wisconsin, like almost every other state, requires all drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of motor vehicle insurance to cover medical costs and property damage if an accident should occur. In fact, if you are a driver who is involved in an accident, the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will check to make sure that all drivers involved are insured. If you don’t have insurance in this situation, the DMV will suspend your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration. Despite these risks, however, many drivers allow their insurance policies to lapse or simply do not purchase insurance coverage as required.

The minimum liability insurance coverage that you can maintain in the state of Wisconsin is $10,000 for property damage, $25,000 for injury or death to one person, and $50,000 for injury or death to more than one person. Additionally, every driver must maintain uninsured motorist coverage in the amount of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. When you get into an accident with an uninsured driver, then, you may have to look first to your own insurance policy for coverage. This situation is precisely why Wisconsin law requires all drivers to maintain uninsured motorist coverage.

In most cases, a negligent driver is responsible for any damages or injuries that occur when he or she causes an accident. For an insured negligent driver, the injured party would look to the driver’s insurance company for coverage. When a negligent driver is uninsured, however, it may be much more difficult to obtain compensation from him or her, particularly if the driver does not own significant assets. Nonetheless, it is still important to seek the counsel and advice of a personal injury attorney if you are in this situation. It may be that there are other potential parties in your situation who may be liable for your injuries.

Recovery for damages from an uninsured or underinsured driver can be a difficult legal process for injury victims to understand. Having a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney on your side to help you navigate the legal system is an essential piece of obtaining compensation for your losses. For more information about how to properly handle your personal injury claim, contact the Wisconsin personal injury lawyers of Boller & Vaughan today.