I've been hit multiple times by uninsured motorists over the years.I have Uninsured Motorist/Property Damage coverage, so my insurance will pay for it and go after the driver via subrogation. Different insurance companies have different approaches to this, but given how high the cost to repair/replace is, I guess my insurance company will end up suing him.
It is illegal to drive uninsured, but typically only results in a citation. The driver of the car that rear-ended us presented insurance at the scene of the accident, but his insurance company says the policy was no longer valid. Truth of the matter is law enforcement have way more to deal with these days than get themselves in the middle of accidents unless it's very serious or fatal.
People buy 3 month insurance policies, and let them expire or stop making payments.
Really, the State should require minimum 6 month policies, fully paid upfront, and automatically suspend licenses if no evidence of renewal is submitted.
It won't stop the uninsured and may in fact increase it, but at least something legally actionable would come of it.