There are many provisions in place to assist someone who has been injured in a car accident, but what if the person injured is not in the country legally? Does that mean that the undocumented immigrant cannot receive the compensation necessary to cover medical expenses and property damage?

If an undocumented immigrant is injured in a car accident, they are entitled to compensation for their damaged property and for their medical expenses. Everyone has the right to receive medical treatment, and the doctors and nurses providing the treatment need to be paid, so it is important that the victim receive their compensation. The victim may have difficulty receiving compensation for wages lost due to injuries, as they do not have a legally documented work status, so proving how much wages have been lost can be difficult.

When reporting the accident to the insurance company, insurance may claim that since the undocumented immigrant has no social security number, they cannot provide compensation. This should in no way stop the payment of compensation however, and if the insurance company denies payment they are violating the victim’s legal rights, and the victim should inform their attorney immediately.

Because the process can be a difficult one, and the illegal alien resident may fear further legal action regarding their status in the country, they may abandon the pursuit of their compensation. Though their name will be public information, law enforcement does not have the complete right to search for immigration status in these court documents.

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important that you speak to an attorney to help you make sure that your rights are protected.

At Wynn and Wynn, we are up to date on recent legal developments and will work with you, whatever your legal needs. Call today at 1-800-852-5211 or click here to schedule a free consultation.