You had to pay for insurance before you could even officially register your first vehicle in your name. If you are like most drivers in Alabama, you have continually carried coverage on your vehicle ever since you got it or obtained your license.
It’s natural to assume that other drivers are similarly responsible, but the sad truth is that not everyone is. Whenever you go out, you run the risk of encountering drivers without insurance. Your own policy won’t necessarily protect you when an insured driver causes a collision. Basic policies in Alabama usually feature liability coverage, which protects you if you cause a crash. It doesn’t apply to a crash clearly caused by another driver.
How likely are you to encounter an uninsured driver in Alabama?
Alabama is one of the worst states for uninsured drivers
According to data from 2019, Alabama is one of the worst states in the country for uninsured driving rates. The state takes the seventh spot on the list, with a shocking 19.5% of drivers uninsured. Essentially, one in five people you encounter on the Alabama roads doesn’t actually have insurance on their vehicle.
Unfortunately, you have a substantial risk of a crash caused by someone who doesn’t have any insurance. Now that you know the risk, you may feel motivated to review your insurance to make sure you have uninsured driver coverage. If you have already gotten into a crash with an uninsured driver, the good news is that insurance isn’t your only option. Civil litigation can also be an option if you have unpaid medical costs, vehicle repair costs or lost wages.
Knowing the risks and the law can help you better respond if you get hurt in a motor vehicle wreck.