If you have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligent actions of another, then you have the legal right to pursue compensation for the harm you have suffered from that individual. In most cases, the compensation you pursue and receive will be from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. Their liability coverage will pay for things such as your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In some cases, however, the at-fault driver may not have any insurance coverage. In other cases, the at-fault driver may not have enough insurance coverage to fully compensate you for your damages. With the financial impacts of sustaining crash injuries being so expansive, it can be scary to learn that you have been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Don’t worry. The team at Pringle & Herigstad will pursue every possible avenue for monetary recovery on your behalf. We want to see you properly compensated for what you have been through.
North Dakota Required Auto Insurance Coverage
Drivers in North Dakota are legally obligated to carry minimum auto insurance coverage. The required insurance coverage in North Dakota is:
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Bodily Injury (BI) coverage. This will pay for the injuries and related expenses incurred by someone else in an accident you caused.
- $25,000 in property damage (PD) coverage. This will pay for the damage to someone else’s vehicle in an accident you caused.
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This will pay for your injuries and property damage should you be involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. This will pay for your injuries only should the driver who caused the accident lack the insurance coverage necessary to fully compensate you.
- $30,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Otherwise known as no-fault insurance, PIP pays for your medical costs, missed wages, and more. It will pay out first regardless of who was at fault for the accident. It provides you with coverage as well as members of your household, your vehicle passengers, and any pedestrians you may hit.
This list represents the bare minimum auto insurance coverage required by North Dakota. Most insurance companies offer extended coverage and higher limits should the policyholder choose to go this route.
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver is Uninsured or Underinsured?
If you get into an accident with a driver who is uninsured or underinsured, you may start to feel anxious that the cost of paying for your accident-related expenses will fall on your own shoulders. Do not worry. There are still options. For starters, your PIP coverage will kick in to assist you with paying for things such as your medical expenses and lost wages. If the driver is underinsured, meaning that their BI coverage is not enough to pay for your injuries and related expenses, then your own UIM coverage will kick in to help you cover your medical expenses. If the other driver is uninsured or it was a hit-and-run accident, then there will not be any BI available, but you will be able to access your UM coverage which will help pay for the expenses associated with your injuries as well as your property damage.
As you can see, UM and UIM coverage can be incredibly helpful in the event that you are injured in a crash. While auto insurance coverage is required of all North Dakota drivers, there are a significant number of people who drive uninsured to avoid the expense of insurance. Still, more people drive with the bare minimum in auto insurance coverage, which means their coverage limits can be quickly exhausted should they injure someone else in an auto accident they caused. Because of this, it is always a good idea to consider expanding your own insurance coverage beyond the state-mandated minimum. Oftentimes, it may not be as expensive as you think to expand your coverage and, in the event of an accident, it can be well worth it.
North Dakota Uninsured and Underinsured Accident Attorney
Dealing with insurance companies and the specifics of insurance coverage can be a real headache. When you are already trying to cope with accident injuries and all of the life disruptions that come with that, it can be too much for one person to handle. You can lean on the team at Pringle & Herigstad and rely on them to work on your behalf to help ensure you are properly compensated for your accident losses. Injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist? Don’t worry. We will explore every possible avenue of recovery to help see to it that your damages are paid. For personal injury legal counsel, you can trust, reach out to our team as soon as possible. Contact us today.
