If you are hit by an uninsured driver, you may still be able to recover for your injuries and damage through your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it.
The usual path when the at-fault driver has no insurance is to shift the focus onto your own coverage instead of the other driver’s.
Being hit by an uninsured driver is more common than many people realize, so it can be useful to know what to do to avoid absorbing the costs of the crash alone.
The Problem With an Uninsured At-Fault Driver
Normally, when another driver causes a crash, you recover from their liability insurance. If that driver has no insurance, there is no policy to claim against, which leaves an obvious gap.
However, you can still pursue the driver personally, but a driver who cannot afford insurance typically cannot pay a judgment either.
This is why simply suing the uninsured driver is frequently a dead end in practice. The more reliable path usually runs through your own coverage, which is designed for exactly this situation. The first initial step after being involved in this kind of accident is to know whether you carry the coverage.
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Helps
Uninsured motorist coverage, often called UM, is coverage on your own policy that steps in when an at-fault driver has no insurance. It can help pay for your injuries and, in some states, your property damage, essentially standing in for the coverage the other driver should have had. In many places it is a standard part of an auto policy.
Underinsured motorist coverage is a related coverage that helps when the at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your losses. Together, these coverages exist to protect you from other people’s lack of insurance, which is why they are worth understanding before you ever need them.
Other Coverage That May Apply
Beyond uninsured motorist coverage, other parts of your policy may help after a crash with an uninsured driver. Collision coverage can pay to repair your vehicle regardless of who was insured, usually subject to your deductible. Medical payments coverage or personal injury protection may help with medical costs.
The one that applies depends on your policy and your state. The point is that even when the other driver has nothing, your own policy can offer several avenues.
| Coverage | What it can help with |
|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Injuries when the other driver has no insurance |
| Underinsured motorist | Losses beyond the other driver’s limits |
| Collision | Vehicle repair regardless of the other driver |
| Medical payments / PIP | Medical costs after the crash |
Steps to Take After the Crash
The steps after being hit by an uninsured driver start the same as any crash. Call 911, get medical attention, and document the scene with photos and details. It is especially important to get the police report here, because it records the crash and the fact that the other driver was uninsured.
Notify your own insurer promptly, since an uninsured motorist claim goes through your policy. Provide the documentation you gathered, and keep records of your treatment and expenses.
Why the Police Report Is Key
When the at-fault driver is uninsured, the police report carries extra weight. It documents the existence of the crash, who was involved and the circumstances. It is heavily used to help establish fault when you turn to your own coverage. Without it, an uninsured motorist claim can be harder to support.
Getting the report early gives your claim a solid foundation. Combined with your medical records and photos, it shows your insurer what happened and why your uninsured motorist coverage should respond, which is exactly what that coverage is for. You can request your free police report through our site to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I’m hit by an uninsured driver?
You may still recover through your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. Because the at-fault driver has no policy to claim against, the focus shifts to your own coverage and other options.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
It is coverage on your own policy that steps in when an at-fault driver has no insurance, helping pay for your injuries and, in some states, your property damage. In many places it is standard on an auto policy.
What if the other driver has insurance but not enough?
Underinsured motorist coverage can help when the at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your losses, filling the gap beyond their limits.
Can I still fix my car if the other driver was uninsured?
Often yes. Collision coverage can pay to repair your vehicle regardless of who was insured, usually subject to your deductible, and other coverages may help with medical costs.
Why is the police report important with an uninsured driver?
It documents the crash, who was involved, and that the other driver was uninsured, which helps establish fault when you turn to your own coverage. It gives an uninsured motorist claim a solid foundation.
Help After the Crash
If an uninsured driver hit you, Local Accident Reports can help walk through the first initial steps.
You can contact our team at 888-657-1460 for help obtaining the police report your own claim will rely on, free and any time of day. We are here to help you move forward.
Last reviewed: August 2026
This post was reviewed by Hernan Beresnak, Lead Editor, Local Accident Reports.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Local Accident Reports is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
