What is an excluded driver?

When a person purchases car insurance, they have the option of excluding drivers from their insurance policy through an excluded driver endorsement. The insurance policy does not cover an excluded driver if an accident occurs.

Reasons to Add an Excluded Driver Endorsement

An excluded driver endorsement can help reduce car insurance costs. The car insurance policyholder may choose to exclude any driver, especially drivers with:

  • A history of traffic tickets or accident claims
  • A drunk driving conviction or other serious traffic infraction
  • Their own car insurance policies

Additionally, some families may choose to exclude teen or elderly drivers from their policies.

What Happens After an Accident With an Excluded Driver

An excluded driver who does not have an alternative insurance policy is uninsured. If you are hurt in a crash with an excluded driver, you may still be able to recover damages for your accident injuries. Our experienced Illinois car accident lawyers will value your damages. Your damages should include compensation for past and future:

  • Healthcare costs
  • Lost income
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Pain and suffering

After determining that the at-fault driver is uninsured, we will determine whether the driver has the financial means to pay for your injuries. If the at-fault driver cannot compensate you for your injuries, then we will pursue an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.

Illinois car insurance law requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage as part of their car insurance policy. At a minimum, you must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist coverage.

When you make an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company may act like an adverse party even though you paid that insurer’s premiums. Like all insurance companies, your insurance company wants to pay as little as possible in accident claims so that it can maximize its profits. We know the games insurers play, and insurers know that our car accident attorneys mean business. Often, insurers are willing to settle claims with us rather than go to court, but we are always ready to go to court if necessary to protect our clients’ recoveries.

Call us today to schedule your free consultation in our Bloomington, Gurnee, or Rockford office, in your home, hospital room, or by phone or video conference.

 

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.