What happens if you get insurance after an accident?
By Pyle Law, January 27 2023 8:16 pmKansas law requires all drivers to carry certain types of auto insurance, including liability coverage, uninsured/underinsured coverage (UM/UIM), and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Because Kansas is a no-fault state, car accident victims will generally file a claim with their PIP policy first, and if their injuries exceed their policy limits, they might also file a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance. If an at-fault driver does not have coverage, a victim can seek additional benefits from their UM/UIM policy.
However, what happens if you do not purchase car insurance until after a car accident occurs? Whether you are purchasing your first policy or allowed your previous insurance to lapse, it can get complicated if you didn’t have active coverage when the accident happened. Auto insurers do not provide retroactive coverage for accidents that occurred when you were uninsured.
Your best course of action in this situation is to speak with a car accident lawyer who represents clients in Kansas. We can advise you on all options you have to seek insurance coverage based on your specific circumstances.
Insurance companies increase their profits by limiting payments to claimants. For this reason, these companies have tightly written policies that make it clear what they do or do not cover for policyholders.
One thing that auto insurers do not cover is anything that happened before you purchased the policy. It is a driver’s obligation to have insurance, and they cannot simply go purchase a policy after an accident to solve the matter.
That said, not everyone who suffers injuries is required to have auto insurance coverage. If you are not required to have PIP coverage – or you don’t have it for another reason – you should be covered by the policy of the driver whose car you were riding in when the crash happened. If for some reason, such coverage does not apply in your situation, you might be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance to seek compensation.
If you have PIP coverage, you might still need to file an at-fault liability claim if you have severe injuries. However, what happens if the at-fault driver did not purchase their insurance until after the accident happened?
Their new insurance company will also not cover a previous accident. In this situation, you might need to file an uninsured motorist claim – along with your PIP claim – to seek additional compensation for your injuries and losses. Even though this is your own insurance carrier, you still want help from a car accident attorney, as the claim process can be challenging. The right lawyer can ensure you seek full compensation from all available sources.
If you are injured in a car crash, speak to Pyle Law about your situation and various legal options. Contact us for a free case evaluation of your rights as soon as possible.
