California law requires that all drivers have valid insurance in order to operate a motor vehicle. Although coverage can vary between policies, the baseline liability policy is intended to determine a driver’s financial responsibility in any at-fault accidents.
It is important to check whether insurance covers the other person after a crash by:
- Exchanging driver information on the accident scene – Asking the driver at the scene is the best way to find out information about car insurance. The California Vehicle Code requires all crash victims to pull over and exchange information. Generally, parties will trade their names, contact information, and any other pertinent details.
- Getting in touch with Law Enforcement – When police arrive at an accident scene, they will conduct an initial investigation and then submit a report. Officers will speak to all parties involved in the initial investigation and collect any relevant information, including insurance information.
The following information will be included in most reports:
- Contact details for parties involved
- Number of insurance policies
- Information about the accident
- Witness statements
- Conclusions of law enforcement about fault
- As part of an accident, citations were issued
- Checking out the DMV – The DMV might be able track down insurance information for the other driver, depending on the circumstances of the crash. You will need to give as much information about the driver as possible and provide a reason for the request.
- Contacting the Insurance Company directly – Even if you have limited contact information, it is possible to reach your insurer and ask for help and file a claim directly to the insurance provider even though the responsible party has disappeared or refused to contact you.
What happens if the at-fault driver isn’t insured?
If you are involved in an car accident with an uninsured driver you will need to contact your insurance company and ask for any relief.
Your insurance company may be able to compensate you for bodily injury in certain cases. If you have suffered property damages or other significant losses, your insurance company may be able to help you seek compensation through alternative methods. For recovering your losses, you may want to file a personal injury lawsuit against the uninsured driver.
Summarized from an article by M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers.
