i got hit by a snow plow and it was clearly not my fault according to the police report. i just want to get my hospital bills covered and my car fixed (totaled). the other guy is not hurt and no damage was done to his plow. i don't have insurance (i know... i royally screwed up), what are my options??? i am meeting with lawyers this week, but do i have a case? also... i'm really upset that my airbags did not deploy on a brand new car. my face is bruised up pretty bad. seat belt and all. help!!!
2007-02-04 03:45:15 · 15 answers · asked by cathleens 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Since Indiana is a no fault state, where your insurance would take care of your expenses, and you had no insurance, yes, you're pretty much screwed. If you don't have insurance, you should not have been driving. If you had not been driving, there would have been no accident, right?
Next question please.
Oh, your airbags. They are designed only to go off when certain criteria are met, you have to be traveling above a threshold speed and have a hit in certain areas with certain forces.
See http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/airbags03/page3.html
2007-02-04 03:55:50 · answer #1 · answered by oklatom 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
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2016-09-25 10:44:47 · answer #2 · answered by Winifred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your claim that it wasn't your fault is substantiated by the police report, and it was caused due to negligence from the Plow Operator then yes you do have a case.
It will drag on for a long time and more than likely end up in a settlement at some point.
Airbags are designed to deploy at speeds of 30mph and over, if the impact is front-end to 3/4 front end collisions.
Good Luck with this...
2007-02-04 03:50:22 · answer #3 · answered by rob1963man 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1. if the plow hit you in the rear or sides....then airbags won't go off as airbag sensors are in the FRONT bumper. (unless you have side impact airbags then there are sensors on the sides).
2. not having insurance is wrong and normally is punishable by 30 days in jail and a fine. normally most judges waive the jail time but make the fine as high as they are legally able to.
3. be happy its not your fault....or you could have a good chance of sitting in jail right now.
4. since you had an accident, even though not your fault, most likely now they will require SR22 insurance on you now (high risk insurance) and this will stick with you for at least 3 years as long as you always pay into insurance. If you stop, then the 3 yr time limit starts fresh. This SR22 insurance is almost twice as much as normal insurance.
5. Since they hit you....their insurance will cover the damage to your car, your medical bills, etc.
6. But you are still screwed.....to have insurance is the law....so sure they hit you....but you broke the law. I wouldn't get too cocky in court over this as you are in the wrong as well.
7. to not afford insurance today....now made it twice as hard to afford for years.....ALWAYS take the first route as its always cheaper (meaning, just pay the insurance like all the rest of us).
2007-02-04 03:52:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
id meet with the lawyers and see what they say about it first ,there's a good chance they might cover this,since you didn't get a ticket ,but what was you thinking driving without insurance,that's a real important thing to have,but still with you not being at fault they may pay all damages to your vehicle and pay the hospital bills also,i bet one thing for sure ,if you get out of this one,i bet you go find some insurance,,i did the same thing you did driving without any insurance,and hit one in the rear,first thing i done was get insurance once i got it all straitened out,and id say you,ll do the same,but talk with the lawyers and see what they say,i wish you luck on this one, hope this help,s.
2007-02-04 03:55:06 · answer #5 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
This really depends on a lot of Court Mumbo Jumbo.
They could use no insurance against you. But, from a legal lawyer talk, they may acknowledge it was not your fault and you win the case, but, be fined for no insurance. It really how much money the judge want to rule in your favor and if you willing to pay. I know people are naive and not believe this, but, I have heard of too many people that take care of business behind closed doors (I really not know their names or where they live). Ha!
2007-02-04 03:58:09 · answer #6 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You did indeed royally screw up, but...there's a but...since you are not to be blamed, you could through a lawyer, claim from the owner of the snow plow damages (make sure you have the police report).
2007-02-04 03:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
IN is a non-PIP state so you can claim bodily injury with the other car. Now, you wont get in trouble, as far as getting your car fixed and all, because it is their responsibility to cover the damage to your car provided it was their insured's fault. However, you can get dinged with the police for driving without insurance.
I do hope you get well soon though!
2007-02-04 08:13:37 · answer #8 · answered by David 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If Indiana law says you are prohibited from recovering damages because you were uninsured....yup, you're screwed. And why don't you have insurance? Don't ya know it's against the law to drive a vehicle uninsured??????????? You get what you get....I don't feel bad for you at all.
2007-02-04 13:47:50 · answer #9 · answered by bundysmom 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am in California so take this with a grain of salt, and assume all of this is if you were here.
You are totally messed up, you pay ALL property damage - person without insurance is ALWAYS at fault, your license is taken away, and your car is taken away, and you still have to pay your car off.
Don't that beat all!
2007-02-04 04:31:55 · answer #10 · answered by startrektosnewenterpriselovethem 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋