According to Indiana law, all drivers must have a minimum of $25,000 in car insurance. That being said, it is estimated that the national average for uninsured drivers in the U.S. tends to hover at around 14%. As a result, your chances of getting in a car accident with an uninsured driver in Indiana are actually pretty high, all other factors being constant.
Indiana is one of 11 states in the country which institutes the “no pay, no play” legal statute. This law simply states that you won’t be able to recover compensation if you were in an accident but did not have insurance or were significantly behind on your payments. This law was passed as a way of ensuring that individuals complied with the existing laws regarding car insurance for the greater good.
Under the “no pay, no play” rules, you won’t be able to collect damages such as:
- Physical impairment
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Exceptions to No Pay, No Play in Indiana
That being said, there are exceptions to this law. If you were under 18 at the time of your accident at the time of the accident, or if you were carrying a passenger who then sustained injuries, or if the accident was caused by the other party in an intentional manner, you may be able to collect damages.
It is also important to note that this statute will only apply to you if you have a past history of not complying with insurance requirements on top of being uninsured at the time the accident occurred.
You may still be able to recover compensation for out-of-pocket costs such as lost wages, and cost of treatment and rehabilitation.