What if I don’t have insurance? Believe it or not, there are consequences for driving without insurance. Even if you are not the one responsible for the accident. Even if you are not in an accident and a cop pulls you over, the consequences of driving without insurance are tremendous.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance?
If you are in an accident and you are not the driver who is at fault, there are restrictions you can recover against the at-fault driver. Since California is a “No Pay, No Play” state, that means that there is a limit to the amount of compensation you receive. You will still receive compensation for damages to your property as well as any medical bills you have accrued. Unfortunately, you will not receive compensation for pain or suffering. Why this rule was put into place is: if you do not have insurance coverage to provide full compensation to another, then you should not be able to claim full benefits from someone else’s insurance company.
If you are at-fault in the accident, the passengers of the car you hit may have access to receive compensation by going after any number of your assets. These assets include your savings, a portion of any earnings from future paychecks, even your home.
Even if you are in an accident and driving without insurance, the at-fault driver will be responsible for paying for damages. This includes property damage as well as repairing the damage to your vehicle. Unfortunately, it will not include covering any pain and suffering you may sustain from your accident.
Example Scenario
if a drunk driver comes up behind you and crashes into you and you become paralyzed, you will not be paid for pain and suffering. Until your personal injury attorney resolves your case, you may end up paying your own medical bills. Even if the accident isn’t your fault. Which is why we always suggest that you have car insurance. If even you can only afford the minimum. It is better to be safe than sorry.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance? There are Penalties
Most states will “punish” you if you are caught driving without insurance. This includes fines that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
- If the police pull you over, not only will you get a ticket, but they may revoke or suspend your license. Furthermore the DMV may suspend your vehicle’s registration.
- After the police file their report with the DMV, the DMV automatically will suspend your license. the penalty is a minimum of 6 months. This happens even when you are not the one who caused the accident.
- You may have to pay your own medical expenses while you are waiting for your case to settle. This is because you do not have uninsured motorist coverage to help even out the costs.
- Driving without insurance can damage more than just your driver record
- It will be more difficult for you to obtain car insurance after you have been in an accident without coverage. Insurance companies may refuse to cover you or they may increase their rates. This is not only because of the accident, but because they do not like seeing uninsured motorists on the road. It makes you a liability.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. Always make sure that you have insurance. Make sure that you have a copy of your insurance card with you when you are on the road. If you are going to be on the road, do not put yourself at risk by not having insurance.
If you are suffering from injuries due to an accident, contact our office today. We are more than happy to help you with your case. Consultations are free.
