Getting into a car accident can be scary. If there’s any damage to either vehicle or a noticeable injury, it makes it that much more important to get a detailed report of what happened so the driver at fault’s insurance can help to cover expenses.

But what happens if you get into a car accident with an uninsured driver? Who pays what, will your insurance rate be affected, and will you have to pay out of pocket? It’s important to hire a Fresno injury attorney to help answer these questions, but here are 4 steps to take if you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver.

1. Call a police officer to file a report.

The first thing you should do, after ensuring that no parties have been seriously injured in the accident, is call the police. In any accident, this should always be one of the first things you do, but it’s even more necessary when you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver. The police will be able to determine who was at fault and write a report that won’t allow the uninsured driver to avoid fault.

2. Document the scene and exchange information.

Although the police will write your information on the copy of the report they give to all parties involved, it’s a good idea for you to still exchange information with the other driver(s). Take photos of the damage on the vehicles, get witness testimonies if possible, and document exactly what happened during the accident.

3. Contact your insurance provider.

The next step is to figure out how exactly you need to go about making an uninsured motorist claim. Many insurance companies provide uninsured motorist protection, so find out if that is included in your policy. That can be a huge help in getting your expenses covered. If you don’t have uninsured motorist protection in your policy, the claims agent can help walk you through your next steps.

4. Hire a Fresno auto accident lawyer.

Hiring a Fresno auto accident lawyer can help ensure that you get as much out of your insurance claim as possible. Many personal injury and car accident attorneys won’t even charge unless/until they win your case so you don’t have to worry about incurring even more expenses from your accident. Working with an attorney can help to ease your nerves during this stressful time, make sure that you’re treated fairly as a driver who does have insurance, and that you get your expenses covered even though the other party was not insured.

Don’t fret. Yes, accidents can be scary, especially when one of the parties involved was uninsured. However, you can still come out of this without outrageous expenses and increased insurance premiums.