You are driving through Cleveland when another car runs a red light and crashes into you. The other driver is clearly at fault, but as you reach for your insurance card, you realize it expired last month. What happens now? At Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how stressful this situation can be. Even if you were not at fault, being uninsured can complicate your claim. Our Cleveland car accident lawyers help victims across Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Lorain, and throughout Ohio understand their legal options and fight for the compensation they deserve after an accident.
Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for causing the crash is also responsible for covering damages. The at-fault driver’s insurance typically pays for:
If another driver caused your accident, their insurance company should compensate you—even if you did not have active insurance at the time of the crash.
However, because you were uninsured, insurance companies may attempt to shift partial blame your way or question your credibility. This is where having experienced legal representation from Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers can make all the difference. Our attorneys investigate every detail to establish fault clearly and hold negligent drivers accountable.
Under Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33, the state follows a modified comparative negligence system. This means you can recover compensation as long as you are 50 percent or less at fault for the crash. If you are found 51 percent or more responsible, you cannot recover damages.
Example: If you are awarded $100,000 in damages but determined to be 20 percent at fault, you can still recover $80,000.
Being uninsured does not automatically make you at fault, but it can influence how insurance companies treat your claim. Adjusters may use your lack of insurance to argue that you were reckless or partially responsible. Our Ohio car accident attorneys know these tactics and fight to keep fault where it belongs on the negligent driver.
Even if you did not have active car insurance at the time of the crash, you may still be eligible to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s policy. This can include:
Our legal team at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni works to identify every available source of recovery, whether through the at-fault driver’s insurer, third-party liability, or other potential coverage.
Even if you were not responsible for the crash, Ohio law imposes penalties for driving uninsured. Under O.R.C. § 4509.101, you must maintain proof of financial responsibility at all times.
Possible penalties include:
While these penalties can be frustrating, they do not eliminate your right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver. Our attorneys can help you handle both the civil penalties for driving uninsured and the legal claims process against the negligent driver.
If you were uninsured but not at fault, it’s important to take specific steps to protect your claim:
The team at Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni can handle all communication with insurance companies, gather critical evidence, and make sure your lack of insurance is not unfairly used against you.
If the driver who hit you also lacks insurance, your case becomes more complex. Since you do not have your own uninsured motorist coverage, recovery options may include:
Our Cleveland accident lawyers understand how to navigate uninsured motorist claims and pursue alternative recovery strategies so that victims are not left with overwhelming financial burdens.
Being uninsured places you at a disadvantage from the start. Insurance adjusters often assume that you do not understand your rights and may try to settle your claim for far less than it is worth.
When you work with Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers, you gain a partner who:
Our attorneys have decades of experience protecting Ohio accident victims and recovering millions in verdicts and settlements statewide.
Clients across Ohio trust our firm because we provide:
We know how to level the playing field against large insurance companies and protect those who have the most to lose.
If you were injured in a crash and did not have insurance, you still have legal options. The key is acting quickly to preserve evidence, establish fault, and prevent insurers from minimizing your claim. At Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers, our Cleveland car accident lawyers help clients across Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Cincinnati, and throughout Ohio recover the compensation they deserve, even under difficult circumstances.
Schedule your free consultation today with Paulozzi, Alkire & Condeni Personal Injury Lawyers. You pay nothing unless we win. Call 800-LAW-OHIO (800-529-6446) or reach out online to discuss your case. Our Ohio accident lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve after an uninsured but not-at-fault car accident.
