Settling A Car Accident Claim Without Insurance

Laws are put in place for everyone to follow. But, as shown by the numerous amount of people who have been given a speeding ticket, that doesn’t always happen. Breaking the law comes with consequences-and yet many do it anyway.

Driving without insurance is against the law. It can lead to fines in first offenses or even worse things if you are caught doing it multiple times.

But, again, people will do it anyways. They will drive without insurance. They will even sometimes get in an accident without insurance.

This situation opens up a twisted can of legal worms. Both for those who suffer an accident with someone who is uninsured, and also for those who are uninsured themselves.

Which begs the question- what do you do after getting in a car accident if you’re uninsured?

For one thing, if you or a loved one end up in this situation, you should contact a group of experienced Los Angeles lawyers as soon as possible.

Our California car accident lawyers will get your legal case on track.

By following the following steps, you might better help yourself through the muck of dealing with an uninsured automobile accident.

 1. At The Scene Of The Accident

After your accident, you must steel your nerves and resist the urge to flee the accident. Leaving the accident without reporting it will only be worse for you in the long run, insurance or not.

Instead, stay put. Exit your vehicle and check on the other driver. If anyone involved in the accident requires medical attention, get them the help they need.

If the other person is severely hurt, or you yourself are badly injured, stay put until medical attention arrives. Don’t try to move another person or yourself if they appear to be dangerously injured.

Beyond that, you should start to exchange information with the other driver. You should get their name, license, insurance information, address, and contact information.

For any other drivers involved or any witnesses to the accident, you should exchange information with them as well.

While getting the information of a witness to your accident may seem like overkill, it can do you wonders in the long run if your case is forced to go to some sort of trial.

2. Report The Accident

You should next report your accident as soon as possible. Don’t delay or dally. Call a police officer and speak with them as calmly and succinctly as you can.

A police officer should arrive at the scene of the accident shortly after you call. Explain to them the circumstances of the accident and be as cooperative as you can in the proceedings.

The officer will fill out their report of the accident. Make sure that you receive a copy.

3. Determine Who Is At Fault

Unfortunately, being found at fault without car insurance won’t be good for you, since those found liable will have to pay for any expenses that occur because of the accident.

You never want to admit you are at fault, especially if you are uninsured. Let the chips fall where they may in this situation.

The police report should help determine who in the accident was truly at fault.

4. Get Quotes

If you are determined to be liable, the expenses of the accident will be up to you to pay.

If this does occur, you should get multiple quotes for the accident’s damages, so that you can come to a realistic amount that you are being tasked with paying.

Additionally, getting quotes of the damages done will be evidence of the exact amount you need to pay. It will avoid any grey areas when it comes to payments, so you won’t be put in a situation where you might have to pay more than the estimated amount.

5. Draft a Settlement Agreement

If you are determined at fault, then after you determine the amount the damages of the accident have accrued to, you should draft up a settlement agreement, which will work out the exact amount you are supposed to pay over time, as well as the method the payment will work out.

To make it official, both parties involved need to sign the settlement agreement and get it notarized.

This will ensure that the future payments go smoothly and that everything is on record, is legally binding, and will also prevent any sort of trial or further legal woes.

6. Document Everything

As with any sort of potentially contentious legal situation, you should document as much of the situation as possible.

All written communications with the other party should be kept, whether they be the original documents or copies.

Document as much of your accident as possible, even if you were at fault. Photograph the cars and the specific damages done, as well as the surrounding area, in order to paint as clear a picture as possible.

You should avoid any sort of verbal communication with the other party to a bare minimum. The last thing you’d want to do is say something that could end up further incriminating you, especially when you are verbally communicating and not being as precise with your language.

If you must end up communicating face-to-face, record the conversation in some way.

Being as thorough as you can in your documentation can only help you in the long run.

7. Contact An Attorney

Should all else fail and neither you nor the other party involved in the accident can come to a reasonable agreement, you should get the help of a lawyer or law group who specialize in this area of the law.

If this is the situation you find yourself in, you should get the help of Los Angeles’ Tawni Takagi by calling (310) 954-7248.

With years of experience handling legal cases like yours, our California personal injury lawyers will give you the legal guidance you need.

Just because you end up in an accident without insurance doesn’t mean you have no rights, or that you aren’t allowed the help and guidance you deserve.

Let us help you get your life back on track.