Las Cruces & Hobbs Uninsured Driver Accident Lawyer
Insurance is not only a necessity, it’s a fact of life. For most of us, having car insurance, home insurance, and/or health insurance is just something we must contend with. Even if you have insurance, it doesn’t mean everyone around you is properly insured, as well. Uninsured driver accidents are far more common than you might think. So when people get involved with an uninsured driver, there are a lot of questions regarding the best course of action.
In New Mexico, like most states, every driver who operates a vehicle is bound by New Mexico’s car insurance laws. Of course, people who do not abide by these laws also get into wrecks. As a Las Cruces and Hobbs, NM-based personal injury attorney, W. Shane Jennings has dealt with uninsured driver accidents. If you need legal assistance, give us a call.
What Happens After An Accident With an Uninsured Driver in Las Cruces?
Unfortunately, the state of New Mexico seems to have a high percentage of uninsured motorists. A 2017 report showed that 20.8 percent of New Mexico drivers did not have any kind of insurance. The state requires drives to carry liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person. Many times, if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver and he/she is found to be at fault, they will likely lose their driver’s license and even get fined. That, however, does not help you with your injuries and mounting medical bills, property damage, and loss of wages.
How Our Lawyer Can Help
If you find yourself in an accident with a person who is uninsured, your first step should be to contact an attorney. You have some options available to you. As such, you should be aware of some of the things you can do and how we can pursue an at-fault claim. New Mexico is what is considered a “fault state.” This means that New Mexico insurance companies will typically allow motorists to recover damages in one of three ways:
- Seek payment from your insurance company. Your insurance will then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver.
- Open a claim with the other driver’s insurance
- File a lawsuit and pursue it in court
This gets a little more complicated when the other driver does not possess any insurance. Adding coverage in your insurance that protects you from uninsured drivers is a good way to build a little cushion of protection. This is often referred to as uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This allows you to make a claim directly to your insurance company when this happens.
Don’t Let More Time Pass You By – Contact Us Today
If you have suffered due to an accident that involved an uninsured driver, call an attorney who can inform you of your options. We know the difficulty of getting injured in a car accident. Call The Law Office of W. Shane Jennings, today.
In addition to Las Cruces, W. Shane Jennings also serves Hobbs, NM, Alamagordo, Cloudcroft, Anthony, Deming, Lordsburg, Llano, TX, and more.