Legal options for someone hit by an uninsured driver

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine was hit by an uninsured driver while riding his bicycle to work. The police report was made, they took him to the hospital where he received treatment for minor injuries and he is following up with the doctors today. Normally the car insurance company would reimburse the health insurance company for this type of thing. My friend is here on a temporary work visa (life guard for the summer) and does not have health insurance. He asked me if I could help him find a lawyer to sue the driver for medical bills at least, but I don't know if that's even possible with the driver not having car insurance. Does anyone have idea about what his options are?

[Anonymous]

You can sue, certainly, but odds are they are uncollectable. Can't get blood from a stone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can sue, certainly, but odds are they are uncollectable. Can't get blood from a stone.

OP here, yeah that's kind of what I thought too.

[Anonymous]

Did he need to go to the hospital? If he only had minor injuries and no health insurance then cheaper medical follow up might have been a better option. If he hit his head or there was concern of broken bones then I get the hospital visit.

I don't see how sueing someone who is uninsured will do anything but cost him more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did he need to go to the hospital? If he only had minor injuries and no health insurance then cheaper medical follow up might have been a better option. If he hit his head or there was concern of broken bones then I get the hospital visit.

I don't see how sueing someone who is uninsured will do anything but cost him more money.

From what I understand the ambulance was called because he hit his head and shoulder and needed x-rays to eliminate more serious injury. All in all, I think he got lucky since he could have been dead. I think going to the hospital was a good thing even if he ends up footing the bill. As unfair as it sounds, I think he is stuck with the hospital bills and with losing his bike. Can wages be garnished if the guy that hit him has a job at least?

[Anonymous]

I think you would have to somhow know the financial situation is of the ininsured driver. My MIL was at one point too cheap to get driver's insurance because she wanted to indulge herself with the money she would have spent. If she had injured someone she would have pled poor, but there was money there. She has since spent that all. My guess is that most people who are not insured are people who can't afford it and I don't know what sueing what do because I am not a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Can wages be garnished if the guy that hit him has a job at least?

Probably, but the chances of your friend getting this through the legal system before Labor Day are probably his biggest obstacles. He can't appear in court if he's out of the country.

[Anonymous]

You could consult a personal injury lawyer who would take the case on contingency. There are ways of investigating whether the person has assets. If your friend had car insurance, and had uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, it might cover this situation (hard to believe, but true). But I'm doubting he does if he's just here temporarily. Also, any lawsuit would probably take more time to litigate than your friend is here, so I'm not sure it would be worth it. Was the driver driving a fancy car? Was the driver driving his own car? If not, the owner of the car might have insurance.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Also, if the driver was driving a work vehicle or driving for the purposes of work, there might be some recourse with the employer's insurance.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for responses. Yes, I agree that time is not on his side either. He is here until begging of September and I doubt anything would be resolved by then.

Does anyone know if Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation would consider covering this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Also, if the driver was driving a work vehicle or driving for the purposes of work, there might be some recourse with the employer's insurance.

Good point. I'll tell him to research this.

[Anonymous]

http://www.gblawyers.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.gblawyers.com/

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Or he could just leave the country and ignore the bills arriving from the hospital. Thats why our bills are so high in the first place right? Uninsured/poor and foreigners who leave the country without good contact info to collect from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or he could just leave the country and ignore the bills arriving from the hospital. Thats why our bills are so high in the first place right? Uninsured/poor and foreigners who leave the country without good contact info to collect from.

+1