In California, all motorists are legally required to carry at least the minimum car insurance coverage. Minimum requirements for auto insurance in California include $15,000 in injury coverage per person, $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per crash, and $5,000 in property damage liability coverage. Car insurance serves as proof of a driver’s ability to pay for damages in the event of an at-fault car crash.
While car insurance is mandatory in California, not all drivers have it. Statistically speaking, more than 16% of California motorists drive without car insurance. If you get injured in an accident with an uninsured driver, you could have a hard time seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.
For this reason, if you have been involved in an automobile accident, your first step is to find out if the other motorist has car insurance. Speak with our car accident attorneys at Arash Law if you have been involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance. Our accident lawyers will review your particular case and help you understand your options for compensation.
Why Do You Need to Know If the Other Driver Is Insured?
If you have been injured in a car accident, the other driver’s insurance status is critical because it will affect what options for compensation are available in your personal injury case. In California, you can file an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your losses.
If the other driver is not insured, you may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company to seek coverage for certain losses. However, doing so may not be the best option because your premiums are likely to rise after you file a claim. For this reason, it is advisable to consult with an experienced California car accident attorney to determine the best option to seek compensation in your particular case.
What Car Insurance Information Do You Need After a Car Accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident, you will need to collect the following information:
- The other car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- The license plate number
- The other party’s driver’s license number
- The other party’s contact information
- The address of the owner of the vehicle
- The name of the other driver’s auto insurance company
When an accident occurs, parties are legally required to provide proof of “financial responsibility” (car insurance) pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 16025.
What Is the First Step to Finding Out If Someone Has Car Insurance?
When you get into a car accident in California, there are several steps you should take to find out if the other driver involved has auto insurance. If the other driver refuses or is otherwise unable to provide their car insurance information at the scene of the crash, you can request information from government agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Following a collision, the first step is to notify the police and file an accident report. When the police arrive at the scene of your car accident, they will:
- Talk to all parties involved to take their statements
- Talk to witnesses to take their statements
- Request proof of insurance from all parties involved in the crash
The police can help you obtain the other driver’s car insurance information if they refuse to provide proof of insurance at the scene of the crash. If the other driver is not cooperative, do not confront them. Keep in mind that the police will enforce the collection of insurance information.
What Is a Crash Report?
When you are involved in a car accident in California, you should obtain an official crash report. The crash report serves as an important piece of evidence in your case because it provides such information as:
- The cause of the accident
- Road and weather conditions at the time of the crash
- The types of vehicles involved in the accident
- The names of the drivers and passengers
- A statement confirming that each party involved has the required amount of car insurance
When preparing their report following an auto accident, the police will ask all drivers involved to provide proof of liability insurance. If the other driver does not have insurance, they will face penalties for driving without insurance. After the crash, you and your lawyer will be able to obtain a copy of the report to pursue an insurance claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Ask the Other Driver to Find Out If They Have Car Insurance
When you are involved in a car crash, the first thing you should do is make sure that everyone is OK. The second step is to report your accident to law enforcement. As you wait for the arrival of the police, you should talk to the other driver to exchange insurance information.
However, asking does not mean confronting. If the other driver is not cooperative or refuses to provide their insurance information, wait for the police to collect their insurance information. When asking the other driver to find out if they have car insurance, make sure that you collect the following information:
- Their name
- Their address and phone number
- The name of their insurance company
- Their insurance policy number
The above-mentioned information will be necessary when filing a claim to pursue compensation for your damages and losses.
When Should You Report Your Car Accident to Law Enforcement?
Not all car accidents are “reportable” in California. According to California Vehicle Code § 20008, drivers must notify the police when their accident involves bodily injuries, deaths, or property damage that appears to be at least $1,000. If you fail to notify law enforcement of a reportable car crash in California, you can face criminal penalties, including a potential suspension of your driver’s license or vehicle registration.
If you are unsure whether or not your crash resulted in injuries or property damage exceeding $1,000, it is advisable to report the accident to the police to be on the safe side. If the other driver failed to provide their insurance information at the scene of the accident or you simply forgot to exchange your insurance information, you can request such information from the police.
The police will provide information about the other driver’s car insurance if you can prove that you were involved in an accident with that person. To do so, you need to provide the other vehicle’s license plate number and the crash report.
How to Get the Other Driver’s Car Insurance Information After a Hit-and-Run?
A hit-and-run occurs when you get into a car accident, and the other driver flees the scene of the crash. When you are involved in a hit-and-run, getting the other driver’s car insurance information – or contact information, for that matter – is more challenging. If you were lucky enough to remember the fleeing vehicle’s license plate number and the model and make of the vehicle, you might be able to collect the driver’s contact and insurance information through the police.
When you provide the license plate number and the model and make of the vehicle that fled the scene of your accident, law enforcement will be able to find the driver as long as your information is accurate. The police will use the provided information to identify and track down the motorist who committed the hit-and-run and get their insurance information so that you can make a claim for compensation.
What Are Other Ways to Collect the Other Driver’s Insurance Information?
If none of the above methods apply to your specific case, there may be other ways to collect the other driver’s car insurance information.
Contacting the Other Driver’s Insurance Provider
You can get the other driver’s insurance information through their insurance company. However, this way of collecting the other driver’s information is only available when you know the name of their insurance company. If the other driver involved in your car accident provided the name of their insurance company, you could reach out to the company to find out more information, including the driver’s policy number. This information is necessary to file a claim to get compensated for your losses.
Contacting the DMV to Get the Other Driver’s Car Insurance Information
If the other driver failed to provide their insurance information or fled the scene of the accident, you may still be able to get their insurance information. As long as you have a valid reason (such as being in a car accident with another motorist), you can ask your local DMV office to give you the other driver’s insurance information.
When requesting the other driver’s car insurance information from your local DMV office, you will need to provide the following:
- A reason for requesting the information (e.g., being in a car accident with the driver whose insurance information is requested)
- A copy of the crash report or police report; and
- Your personal and contact information to confirm that you were involved in a collision with the other driver.
If you provide false or inaccurate information to the DMV, the department will deny your request for the other driver’s insurance information.
What About Car Insurance for Leased and Rented Vehicles?
If you were involved in a car accident with a leased or rented vehicle, you need to understand how insurance coverage works for leased and rented cars. Generally, leasing companies prohibit individuals from using their vehicles if they do not have the required insurance coverage. This requirement is usually part of the lease agreement.
Typically, rental car companies offer several options when it comes to providing insurance for rented vehicles:
- The company requires the individual to pay extra for the insurance coverage.
- The company allows the individual to use their own car insurance if it includes rental car coverage.
If you were injured in a car accident involving a leased or rented vehicle, speak with an attorney to find out what insurance coverage may apply to your particular situation.
What to Do If the Other Driver Does Not Have Car Insurance
As mentioned earlier, over 16% of all motorists in California drive without auto insurance, while many others do not have sufficient car insurance to cover all the losses and damages incurred by victims in the event of a car accident. If you find out that the other driver is uninsured, the first thing you should do is notify the police.
The police will write in the crash report that the other driver does not have insurance. However, just because the other driver is not insured does not mean you cannot receive compensation for your losses. If the other driver is not insured, you will have to file an insurance claim with your own auto insurance company. The downside of filing a claim with your own insurer is that this may cause your premiums to rise.
If the other driver remained at the scene of the accident or was identified following a hit-and-run crash, you might have the option of filing a lawsuit against the driver to obtain compensation for your damages. Either way, it is best to discuss your options with a skilled car accident attorney in California. Our injury lawyers at Arash Law are prepared to help if you have been involved in a crash caused by an uninsured motorist. Call (888) 488-1391 to receive a free case review.
