In a recent study conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), it has become apparent that if you become injured in an automobile accident, odds are about one in seven that the driver at fault isn’t insured. The number of uninsured drivers has risen since the 12.7% of uninsured drivers in 1999, with about 14.6% of drivers on the road today uninsured. These numbers change from state to state, as well.
The states with the highest uninsured driver rates are as follows:
- 26% – Mississippi
- 25% – Alabama
- 25% – California
- 24% – New Mexico
- 22% – Arizona
The states with the lowest uninsured driver rates are as follows:
- 4% – Maine
- 6% – Vermont
- 6% – Massachusetts
- 7% – New York
- 8% – Nebraska
According to Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senoir vice president of the IRC, “Even though most states require drivers to maintain insurance, the problem of uninsured motorists persists…. Responsible drivers who purchase data end up paying for injuries caused by uninsured drivers.”
The IRC collected their data by analyzing 11 different insurers, representing about 58% of the private passenger auto insurance market in the U.S. IRS findings are based on ratios of claims made by individuals who were injured by insured drivers versus claims made by individuals injured by uninsured drivers.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident or would be interested in more information, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney such as The Bradley Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri.
