The Dayton Daily News recently ran an article about House Bill 62, a 2019 budget bill that eliminated random insurance checks for drivers in Ohio. Prior to the passing of the bill, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) would send out random selection letters to vehicle owners (5,400 per week), requiring them to show that they have at least state minimum liability coverage. The drivers would need to show the coverage on the date the vehicle was selected (going out and buying coverage on receipt of the letter was not sufficient). Failing to show insurance could result in a suspension of a license.
That all changed on July 3, 2019, when House Bill 62 removed the requirement to prove evidence of financial responsibility (insurance). However, the bill did not change or remove the requirement to keep insurance in Ohio, per Section 4509 of the Ohio Revised Code. The article in the Dayton Daily News revealed that the Ohio Department of Public Safety does not track the number of people driving uninsured. However, we do know that 1.3 million Ohioans were given non-compliance suspensions in 2018 for failing to provide proof of insurance at a traffic stop or crash.
The National Insurance Institute estimates that about 13% of motorists in the U.S. and 12.4% of motorists in Ohio, (which equates to 995,000 drivers in Ohio), drive without insurance. With that many people driving without insurance in the state of Ohio, the only way you can be certain that you are protected is to carry uninsured motorist insurance. If you do not have uninsured motorist insurance and are struck by a driver with no insurance, you will have to pay for all of your medical bills out of your pocket and will receive NOTHING for lost wages and/or pain and suffering. Therefore, it is vital that you have uninsured motorist coverage to protect you and your family.
Personal injury attorneys deal with insurance companies everyday resolving claims and lawsuits for car accident injuries and deaths. And while insurance companies can be challenging to deal with, a far greater tragedy than dealing with a challenging insurance claims adjuster is not having an insurance company to deal with. Remember, your car insurance is a type of financial security for you and your family. It is always devastating to hear about someone being seriously injured in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist. It’s even more devastating when an accident victim didn’t have their own insurance as an added protection for themselves and their families. Protect yourself with as much insurance as you can afford and with a good attorney.
Call GBM Law today at 614-222-4444.