Your claim will be handled through your own policy’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you have it. This is optional in some states but highly recommended. It covers your vehicle repairs and medical bills when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage. If you only have basic liability insurance, you likely cannot make a UM claim. In that case, you may need to use your collision coverage for repairs (subject to your deductible) or pursue the driver personally, which is often difficult.

You are entitled to be put back in the position you were in before the damage. This usually means the repair cost or the property’s actual cash value if it’s destroyed. You can also claim related losses, such as rental car fees while your vehicle is fixed, or temporary storage costs. Keep all receipts and estimates. The goal is financial reimbursement for your direct losses, not a windfall. The liable party’s insurance provider will typically handle this payout.

Warning signs can help, but they are not an automatic shield against liability. They show you attempted to warn of a known danger, which is a crucial step. However, you are still expected to fix the hazard within a reasonable timeframe. A sign may be insufficient if the danger was extreme or if it was unreasonable to expect visitors to encounter it at all, such as a major structural hazard in a common walkway.