Liability auto insurance is a legal requirement in most parts of the USA, including here in Riverside. If you are a driver, this means you are legally obliged to hold a valid auto insurance policy and be able to produce evidence of this policy if required by the police. Should you be stopped by the police and not be able to prove you have a valid liability auto insurance policy, you could be subject to a high fine and, perhaps, even having your license suspended. In addition to this, if you’re involved in a car accident without auto insurance, you could be forced to pay for all expenses, including legal fees, from your own funds. Even in a relatively minor car accident, this can be an exorbitantly expensive prospect.
Aside from the potential financial consequences of driving without insurance, you should also be aware of the dangers of doing so.
Consequences of Driving Without Auto Insurance
As California is one of the states actively monitoring car insurance, there’s a high chance of getting caught and fined up to $500 plus potentially losing your license. If it’s not your first offense, you can expect harsher penalties.
From the other side of the coin, what happens if you’re involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver? While you may be able to claim against the driver for compensation, what do you do if the driver is unable to cover all costs from their own pocket? The answer is that, by yourself, you’ll struggle to obtain much in the way of recompense, so you should an uninsured driver accident attorney to fight your corner.
Hopefully, you will never need to know what to do in such a situation but, just in case, here’s what you should do after an accident with an uninsured driver in Riverside or surrounding areas.
What to Do After an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
The first thing you should do after a car accident, whether the other driver is insured or uninsured, checks for people in need of medical attention. Once this has been done, you should call the police immediately, and wait at the scene of the accident for them to arrive. This police report can form an essential part of your evidence should you bring a lawsuit against the uninsured driver. While waiting for the police, you should collect all relevant information, including:
- Name, address, and telephone number
- Make, model, color, and license number of the vehicle
- The other driver’s insurance details. Even if an insurance card is shown at this point, they may later turn out to be uninsured, so make sure to obtain all information just in case
- Photographs of damage to your car and any other vehicles involved, the scene of the collision, any skid marks on the road surface, and any other details you feel may be useful
Your next step should be getting in touch with a skilled lawyer specializing in uninsured car accidents.
If you need legal assistance with a car accident involving an uninsured driver, contact us on 310-997-0904 to arrange a review of your case.
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