Quite a few people assume that if they get into a car crash while driving on the Louisiana roads, they will have plenty of protection because they have a good insurance policy. What many drivers don’t stop to think about is the fact that the policy they carry on their vehicle is actually liability insurance.
The state of Louisiana mandates certain coverage so that if you cause a crash that hurt someone else or damages their property, their costs will have coverage. In other words, when you get into a crash because some driver runs a red light or merges right into the side of your vehicle on the highway, it’s not your policy but rather their policy that will be paying for your property damage and medical costs.
What are the chances of encountering an uninsured driver?
Most responsible adults realize that not carrying insurance puts them at risk of big financial claims from other people and an expensive ticket if they get pulled over by the police while uninsured.
Some people are willing to take that gamble because they simply can’t cover the cost of insurance. Others might just make a minor mistake and forget to pay a bill, leading to a policy lapse. Regardless of whether the lapse in coverage is intentional or not, uninsured drivers put everyone at risk on the road.
There are more uninsured drivers than you might think sharing the road with you. You have a relatively strong chance of encountering uninsured drivers in Louisiana, as estimates indicate that approximately 13% of drivers don’t have active insurance at any given time.
Who pays when someone doesn’t have insurance?
If you’re dealing with medical costs and possibly a totaled vehicle after a car crash, you don’t want to have to handle those expenses yourself. If you have uninsured driver coverage on your policy, your insurance might step up and protect you by covering the costs associated with the collision.
You will also have the right to bring a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the crash and didn’t have the insurance necessary to protect you and others on the road.
