An estimated 19.1 percent of drivers in the District of Columbia are uninsured, according to a 2021 study by the Insurance Research Council. The District ranked ninth highest in the United States for uninsured motorists. Mississippi had the highest percentage at 29.4, and New Jersey came in lowest at just 3.1 percent.
All drivers are required to carry insurance. Specific coverage requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but a driver should not be able to register a vehicle without proof of insurance—just as they should not get behind the wheel without a valid driver’s license. However, some drivers allow their insurance policies to lapse, and others don’t even register their vehicles in the first place. Those who fail to comply with requirements raise insurance costs for everyone. In fact, the Insurance Research Council estimates that drivers across the U.S. paid more than $13 billion for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in 2016 alone.
If you live and work in an area with a high rate of uninsured motorists, like the District of Columbia, you’re more likely to be involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance to cover your injuries and damage to your vehicle. This complicates things. You will have to turn to your own policy or consider other sources for recovery. Fortunately, our Washington, D.C. car accident attorneys have some helpful information and insight to offer regarding this subject.
D.C. Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage Requirements
According to Washington, D.C. auto insurance requirements, you must have uninsured motorist coverage. This is good news if you’re involved in a hit and run or an accident with a driver who has no insurance. Your policy should cover your injuries and damage to your vehicle.
The minimum coverage requirements for the District of Columbia are as follows:
- Bodily injury: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Property damage: $10,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist (bodily injury): $20,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist (property damage): $5,000 per accident
Depending on your policy, you may have more coverage than what’s listed above. If you’re leasing your car, for example, you probably have more. Leasing companies typically require about $100,000 in bodily injury coverage and $50,000 in property damage coverage. A review of your policy should reveal what is available after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
How a Washington, D.C. Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Even if you have a solid insurance policy that should cover a crash with an uninsured driver, you may run into obstacles trying to get a fair settlement. Insurance companies are notorious for delaying and underpaying claims. Some try to deny legitimate claims outright. If you were seriously injured, you may require tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care. Your other bills may quickly pile up while you’re injured and unable to work. You won’t be able to rely on your insurance company to treat you fairly by giving you a quick and complete payment.
An attorney who has experience with uninsured motorist claims in Washington, D.C. can make all the difference for you and your family. At Gracia & Mintz, we don’t stand by while big insurance companies pay people pennies on the dollar for their auto accident claims. We help our clients by investigating their collisions, finding all possible sources of coverage, and fighting for the complete compensation they need to put their lives back together. Uninsured motorist accidents are complicated, but by putting in the work it is possible to get a fair and swift result.
To learn more about the ways our car accident lawyers can help you, call (301) 842-8584. There is no obligation, and we handle accident cases on contingency: you pay nothing unless we win.