Ohio has a serious problem with uninsured motorists. Every time you drive, you are sharing the road with uninsured motorists, and even the most defensive driver is still at risk from other motorists. Uninsured motorists are breaking the law, but worse, are posing a threat to you and your loved ones. A new House Bill is intended to incentivize drivers to comply with financial responsibility laws and reduce the risk to law-abiding citizens.
A growing threat
Jeff Smith, Director of Government Affairs for the Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio, wrote a letter to The Columbus Dispatch. He said, “According to data from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the risk of being involved in an accident on Ohio’s roads has decreased by 21 percent in the last 10 years, but the likelihood of being involved in an accident with a motorist who is uninsured or who can’t provide proof of insurance has gone up by 550 percent. To top it off, uninsured drivers were at fault in these crashes more than 65 percent of the time.”
The safest driver in the world still has no control over other drivers. Driving without insurance is a deeply irresponsible act with very real consequences. In almost every state, driving without car insurance is illegal. Despite this, the Insurance Research Council reported that in 2012, the most recent year for which data is available, uninsured motorists claims totaled $2.6 billion in the United States.
If the proposed Bill is enacted, Ohio will join the ranks of 10 other states that have enacted “no pay, no play” laws. These laws limit an uninsured driver’s ability to claim damages in an accident. According to the Insurance Research Council, “no pay” laws reduce uninsured motorist rates by 1.6% on average. That math still leaves over a million uninsured drivers on the road. It’s a start, but more needs to be done to address the growing problem.
In the meantime, uninsured motorists continue to pose a threat to law-abiding citizens. If you or someone you know has been in an accident with an uninsured motorist, the experienced Kentucky and Ohio personal injury lawyers at Crandall & Pera Law can help get you the compensation that you need for medical expenses and lost wages. Contact us today for a free consultation.