[xzins]

Not to be overly dramatic about it, but I’ve been hit by an uninsured driver in the past. Fortunately, my insurance company covered it, but WHY should that guy be allowed to get away with not paying for damages that he caused?

I know my insurance company never got reimbursed.

How do I get reimbursed when some jerk who doesn’t have a dime to his name decides to jump in a pickup and drive like a nut?

I LIKE the idea that when you go to get a license to drive that you have to put an amount in escrow or show insurance.

HOW is that different than my having to pay a deposit to rent someone’s apartment?

[Jim Robinson]

Why would you not carry “uninsured motorist” coverage on your insurance policy? It’s not the government’s business to insure your private property or to force your neighbors to cover it for you.

[SoConPubbie]

Sorry, that analogy does not work for me.

So what did people do before they had cars or mandated insurance?

They apparently were able to get along.

[SoConPubbie]

Furthermore,

What should happen is that if the owner of that car cannot pay for damages, his car and his right to drive are taken away for whatever would be an appropriate amount of time. The car or what it is worth should be given to the victim.

One thing I do know, our lives would be much simpler, productive, and happy without the government mandating things that belong to the choice of the individual.

If the founder’s of this country were alive today, they certainly would not be in favor of this type of nanny-statism.

[broncobilly]

Your insurance company covering the damages from an uninsured motorist is the same as what the hospitals do now. All car insurance rates go up to cover the problem. And in the hospital’s case, all hospital charges have to go up to cover the uninsured patient.
I think the problem could be solved if there was a regular, easy means for insurance companies and hospitals to garnish wages, attach liens to property, or put someone in a work/jail situation. Is that feasible? (debtor's prison?)

[GOP_Lady]

For years, conservatives have been saying to prioritize and buy health insurance. Now that the MA law is requiring them to do that, some people are complaining.

[FastCoyote]

“Not to be overly dramatic about it, but I’ve been hit by an uninsured driver in the past. Fortunately, my insurance company covered it, but WHY should that guy be allowed to get away with not paying for damages that he caused?”

That is exactly the problem. Mandated insurance is corporate welfare for insurance companies. The real way to treat the problem is if you are uninsured AND have an accident, enforce the penalties (especially against illegals who walk).

In 35 years of driving, my insurance has paid $400 for a slight fender bender, I have never been paid by the people who nicked me. In real dollars, that means I’ve been forced to pay $35,000 for a $400 benefit. Does no one see a problem with that???