A car accident can be overwhelming to handle. But what if the other driver doesn’t have insurance? It sounds like a nightmare — and certainly can be, if the process isn’t correctly addressed.

So, how does the auto insurance claims process differ for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with Farmers? Let’s look at how auto insurance works and what this looks like for claims with Farmers.

What You’ll Need for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims With Farmers

First and foremost — and especially for claims involving uninsured or underinsured motorists — it’s essential to document everything. If possible, take pictures of any damage that occurred during the accident.

Record any important details, such as license plate numbers, names, and contact information of everyone involved. If there were any witnesses, get their information, as well.

Once you have the necessary information, report the accident to Farmers. You can do this online, through the company’s app, or by calling 1-800-435-7764.

Provide Farmers all the details and documentation about the accident, and let the company know that the other driver doesn’t have insurance or is underinsured.

Work With Your Farmers Claims Representative

But continuing with the claim, once it’s filed, Farmers will assign a claims representative to your case. This person will be your point of contact throughout the process and help you understand your coverage.

As the process moves forward, be sure to document any medical expenses and other costs related to the accident. Your claims representative will likely ask for this information, so it’s best to keep it handy because it’s quite possible to get injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.

Your representative will review the details of the accident with you and confirm your coverage specifics. Farmers will then move forward with your claim if it looks like you’re eligible for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You would need to have this coverage included in your policy before the incident in question.

The Farmers Auto Insurance Claim Investigation

Once the company has the go-ahead, it will look into your accident to determine who was at fault. Investigators will reach out to any potential witnesses, review police reports, and observe damage to your vehicle.

They’ll also investigate the other driver’s insurance situation to confirm the uninsured or underinsured status of the driver.

Once Farmers is done with its investigation, the company will make a decision about your claim. If it turns out that the other driver is actually uninsured or underinsured — and you weren’t at fault — Farmers would cover your damages up to the limit of your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Note, however, that if you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, you may have to rely on collision coverage in this situation — and you’d have to pay your deductible. If you only have liability insurance, Farmers won’t be able to take care of your claim.

The Difference for the Uninsured/Underinsured Auto Insurance Claims Process with Farmers

Sometimes when dealing with an auto insurance claims process for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with Farmers, the other driver may not cooperate. They may not believe they’re at fault in the accident — especially if out-of-pocket expenses are involved.

The other driver may even counter-sue you, even though they don’t have insurance. Or if the driver is underinsured, you may ask, “Can an auto insurance company sue me?”

But with a formal claim, Farmers can help you recover any costs or losses associated with the uninsured/underinsured driver or the accident. Regardless, if you should receive any legal documents, be sure to alert Farmers as soon as possible.

Ensure a Smooth Uninsured/Underinsured Claims Process With Farmers

While this process can be stressful, it’s designed to protect you. Farmers is there to support you and help you get back on your feet. So, be patient, keep great records, and openly communicate with your representative.

If you do, you should be able to breeze through the auto insurance claims process for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with Farmers.