A car accident is arguably the worst thing that can happen to you at any time of the year, but when it happens during the holiday season, the only question there is at the back of your mind is probably, “Why me?”
More often than not, if you are represented by a Los Angeles car accident attorney and both you and the other party are properly insured in California, recovering damages will be a more or less straightforward process. But if you are dealing with an uninsured motorist, things become much more complicated in an instant.
Today, our car accident lawyers Los Angeles from JML Law are going to explain how to seek compensation after a motor vehicle crash if the other driver does not carry auto insurance, and how to verify the other motorist’s insurance information.
Dealing with uninsured motorists in California
“Wait, are there motorists in California who do not carry auto insurance even though car insurance is required by California law?” Unfortunately, yes, and there are quite a few of those if you look at the statistics.
There are thousands of car drivers in California who refuse to purchase auto insurance, which, oftentimes, makes it impossible to seek compensation for your damages through insurance companies without having to sue the uninsured motorist and get an experienced car accident attorney in Los Angeles or elsewhere in California onboard by your side.
Protecting yourself against uninsured drivers in California
One of the options to protect yourself from unnecessary headaches is to add uninsured motorist coverage to your standard auto insurance policy. This type of coverage protects you from motorists who violate the law and refuse to carry car insurance.
“Uninsured motorist coverage can make a huge difference in the event of a car accident in which you get injured by a car driver with no insurance coverage or whose insurance policy has expired,” explains our car accident attorney Los Angeles.
How to verify the other driver’s insurance information
“But how do I know that the other driver does not have insurance?” you may be wondering. That’s a very good question. Unfortunately, more often than not, motorists do not admit that they do not have auto insurance at the scene of a car accident.
That’s why our car accident lawyers always advise our clients to ask for insurance information the first thing they get into a car crash in Los Angeles or elsewhere in California. Also, writing down the license plate, the driver’s name and surname, the vehicle model, and other relevant information is important to verify his or her insurance.
If you call the police, they can verify the other driver’s insurance at the scene of a car crash. A police report documenting a lack of insurance coverage on the part of another driver can help you prove your uninsured motorist claim. In addition to that, the police may also issue a citation for violating the law that requires carrying auto insurance.
Let our Los Angeles car accident lawyers help you
Even if the other driver provided you with his or her “insurance information,” it is always a good idea to check if their insurance coverage exists, is verifiable, active, and not expired. Once you have the other driver’s insurance information, let your Los Angeles car accident attorney contact the driver’s insurance company and verify that his or her insurance coverage is still active and includes necessary coverage for your type of accident.
Last but not least, trusting your own insurance company is a huge mistake because even if you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurer will do whatever it takes to minimize your settlement through a variety of dishonest and fraudulent methods.
Contact JML Law and speak to our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles today. Schedule a free case evaluation to verify the other driver’s insurance information and file an uninsured motorist claim in California. Call at 818-610-8800.
