No one wants to be involved in a car accident, especially one with an uninsured driver. But the odds of a car accident involving an uninsured driver might be higher than you think. Nearly one in every eight drivers on the road is uninsured, according to the Insurance Information Institute. So what happens if you’re involved in a crash with an uninsured driver?

If the other driver is at fault and doesn’t have car insurance, you’ll most likely still be covered if you have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy. To make the process go as smoothly as possible, follow these six steps.

1. Call the police

The first step after any auto accident is to call the police so they can assess the situation and file a police report. This will ensure everything is properly documented and any emergencies are handled. If the other driver was at fault, having a police report provides you with extra support when you file your claim with your insurance company to prove fault.

2. Take pictures of everything

Documenting everything yourself is very important, especially when dealing with an accident with an uninsured driver. Take pictures of everything, including the damage done to both cars, the accident scene as a whole, license plates, any traffic signs and the direction in which both vehicles were traveling. When you contact your insurance company to file a claim, the more information you’re able to provide them, the better.

3. Exchange information

Even though the other driver doesn’t have any insurance information to exchange with you, it’s still important to have some way to contact them. Police will get their information as well, but it’s important you have some method to be able to reach them or any other witnesses at the scene. You should also get the name and badge number of the officer responding to your accident.

4. Contact your insurance company

Contact your insurance company to let them know you were in an accident and that it was with an uninsured driver. It’s best to have all the information you gathered ready, as they may ask various questions in order to assess how much the accident might cost. When filing your claim, provide them with as much detail as possible and submit all pictures you took.

5. Take care of yourself and any medical issues

Make sure to treat any medical problems you may have resulting from the accident. Because the other driver doesn’t have bodily liability insurance, which would normally cover your medical bills, you may have to rely on your own medical insurance. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company should cover your medical expenses, up to your policy’s limits.

6. Repair your car

Talk to your insurance company to find out where you should bring your car and about how much repair costs should be. They should be able to provide you with an estimate, and let you know how much they will be covering.

Any auto accident is stressful for the people involved, but choosing the right car insurance to protect you in the event of an accident can help relieve some of this stress. When shopping for your car insurance, check out which insurers other drivers rate as the top auto insurance companies.

Summary: 6 steps to handling an accident with an uninsured driver

1. Call the police
2. Take pictures of everything
3. Exchange information
4. Contact your insurance company
5. Take care of yourself and any medical issues
6. Repair your car

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