If you are involved in a car wreck without insurance, you need to know what the potential consequences are. The consequences will vary depending on whether you are at fault or not. This will also depend on whether you are the uninsured party or not.
If You Cause A Car Wreck Without Insurance
If you are at fault for the accident and do not have insurance, there are some serious repercussions that you can face. The fact that car insurance is a legal requirement in most states is the first issue you need to face. If you are caught without insurance in these cases, you will be penalized. The fine that you face will depend on the state and if you are a first-time offender.
Looking past the legal requirement, you could be liable for damages. In most states, your insurance company will cover the damages and injury costs of the other party. However, when you do not have insurance, the other party has the right to sue you for this.
If you live in one of the no-fault insurance states, the process will be different. Minor injuries will generally be claimed against the person’s insurance, but they still have the right to sue you for medical costs. This will generally occur when the injuries are severe.
If The Other Driver Causes The Accident
If you are not at fault for the accident, but do not have insurance, you might still face a fine. When the accident is reported, there is a chance that your lack of insurance will come to light. Of course, you will face fines based on the state and whether insurance is a legal requirement.
In some states, you will be limited in what you can sue the other driver for when you do not have any insurance. These are the no pay, no play states. In these states, you cannot sue for damages which cannot be quantified with a dollar amount. This means that emotional distress, physical pain, and mental suffering cannot be claimed.
If You Have Insurance, But No Proof
There are times when you have insurance, but do not have any proof of this insurance with you. This can be a problem and it is recommended that you do keep proof of your insurance with you such as a policy ID card. There are some states that allow you to show proof on your smartphone and you need to consider this.
If you cause an accident and do not have proof of your insurance, you will face less serious issues than when you are uninsured. You could receive a citation for not having insurance, but this will generally be dismissed when you show the proof of insurance in court. The proof will need to have a date showing that your policy was in effect on the date of the accident.
If you are in a car accident and do not have insurance, you can face serious fines. First-time offenders will generally face smaller fines, but some states mandate jail time. If you are not at fault, you could be limited to the damages you can claim.