Arkansas Sees Three Percent Drop in Uninsured Drivers

A recent study by US News and World Report found that several US states have a growing problem with uninsured drivers – but Arkansas isn’t one of them. Arkansas was one of only three US states that saw its uninsured driver rate drop more than three percent between 2022 and 2023.

Uninsured drivers are dangerous. In a crash, an injured person may not get the help they need if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance coverage. By making sure drivers have insurance, Arkansas helps protect everyone on its roads.

Arkansas in Top Three States for Uninsured Driver Declines

US News examined uninsured motorist data from the Insurance Information Institute and other sources for its report. The researchers found that between 2022 and 2023, six states saw their rates of uninsured drivers go up by more than three percentage points.

These states include Arkansas’ neighbors, Missouri and Mississippi. Mississippi had a six percent increase in uninsured drivers, the highest in the study. Missouri was second with a 4.7 percent increase – tied with Florida, which also saw a 4.7 percent increase. Kansas, New Jersey, and California also made the list.

Meanwhile, Arkansas saw its uninsured driver rate drop three percent. Only Rhode Island (3.2 percent decrease) and Kentucky (4.6 percent) saw lower rates of uninsured drivers. US News looked into the reasons for decreases in each state.

Arkansas’ 2020 Crackdown on Uninsured Drivers

In 2020, Arkansas made several changes to its driving laws. Several changes focused on uninsured drivers.

The Arkansas House stated that about 16 percent of Arkansas drivers in 2020 didn’t have insurance. This number was higher than the national average of 12.5 percent, according to the House.

In response, Arkansas passed a real-time insurance verification law. The law gives Arkansas police access to insurance information. When police run a license plate, the system can tell them if the car is insured at that moment.

The law also gave Arkansas residents more notice about insurance lapses – and penalties when a lapse wasn’t fixed. Anyone who owns a registered vehicle in Arkansas receives a letter when their insurance coverage lapses. A lapse in coverage comes with a $100 fine. If the fine isn’t paid and the lapse isn’t fixed, the state suspends the vehicle’s registration.

Alabama uses a similar system. According to the Arkansas House, the Alabama system drove down uninsured vehicle rates by more than seven percent. The US News research shows that Arkansas is on a similar path to lower uninsured motorist rates.

How Uninsured Drivers Threaten Those on Arkansas Roads

No one wants to be in a car accident. Injuries, car damage, police, paperwork, confusion, uncertainty…. None of it is wanted, and all of it ruins your day.

When you hear the other driver doesn’t have insurance, things get even worse. What’s going to happen to you? Can you get the medical and other help you need? Are you going to be financially ruined because someone else made a bad decision?

Auto insurance is a financial safety net for those injured in car accidents. Auto insurance covers property damage, medical bills, and other losses after a crash. When a driver doesn’t have insurance, they take a big risk – and they put everyone else on the road at risk as well.

When you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance:

• Your bills add up fast. Medical care can’t wait – but without insurance, it’s tough to get those bills paid. Lost wages, car repairs, and other costs add up too.
• You may still deal with insurance delays and denials. Your insurance may cover some bills, especially if you have uninsured/underinsured (UI/UIA) motorist coverage. Yet your insurance company may play hardball. Often, insurers will delay claims, hoping that the other driver will turn out to have insurance after all. In a hit and run, your insurer may drag their feet in hopes that the other driver will be found – and that they will have had insurance all along.
• Your only choice may be to sue the other driver directly. While a lawsuit is an option, it’s not the easy route. First, a case may drag on for months or years. Second, without insurance, you’re left with whatever you can get from the other driver. If they have no assets or means to pay a judgment, you get little or nothing.

Getting the help you need after a car crash is tough. It’s even tougher when a driver has no insurance. For help getting the compensation you need, talk to an experienced Arkansas car accident lawyer today. The team at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. is here to assist.