Driving a car without any valid insurance is extremely ill-advised. You could face potential violations and other consequences, including fines, a suspension of your driver’s license, loss of car registration, and even jail time. This can also ruin your chances of finding affordable insurance in the future.
Whoever’s at fault will undoubtedly impact the situation, however, our car accident attorneys in San Diego recommend that you take six crucial steps when you’re involved in a car accident without insurance:
Step #1 – Stay at the Scene
You never want to leave the accident scene because you’ll face serious legal consequences. Although there are repercussions to getting into a car accident without insurance, you can get in even more trouble if you leave the scene. Criminal hit and run charges are serious penalties in the state of California.
Step #2 – Contact Emergency Medical Services
If anyone suffered serious injuries – including yourself – in the accident, you need to call 911 and request emergency medical services. Getting in a car accident without insurance is never fun, but safety should always be your top priority. Take the time to check on the well-being of all parties involved.
Â
Step #3 – Contact the Authorities
You also need to contact the police and wait for them to write up the car accident report. The police will ask you and the other driver questions about what occurred while documenting their findings. You should also ask them for a copy of the police report.
Step #4 – Share and Exchange Essential Information
After the accident occurs, you must exchange and gather information from all parties involved. However, be careful about what you say and don’t reveal too much information to the people at the scene. You don’t want to admit that you’re responsible for what happened or say anything that can be detrimental to your case. Instead, you should avoid any discussions about who’s at fault.
Â
Step #5 – Take Pictures of the Scene and Vehicles
It’s advisable also to take the time to gather evidence from the scene of the accident. This includes photographs or videos of road signs, skid marks, and property damage. Also, we recommend that you take note of the weather and road conditions and the direction in which the vehicles were traveling before and after the accident.
Â
Step #6 – Seeking Legal Representation
Getting in an accident without insurance can be nerve-wracking – you’re probably unsure about the consequences. For example, the other driver might try to blame you for the accident after learning that you’re uninsured. Legally and financially, there’s a lot at stake, so you need to mitigate the damage the best you can.
Even if the other driver is at fault, pursuing a personal injury claim will have challenges when you get in a car accident without insurance. If you’re the at-fault driver, you could be held financially responsible for the damages caused by the accident. The biggest step you can take is to contact a personal injury attorney who can handle your case.
Â
No matter the specifics of your claim, the legal experts here at HHJ Trial Attorneys can help you navigate the entire process. Schedule an appointment with us today, and we can immediately begin determining the best way to recover compensation.
Testimonial from CB, Car Accident Victim in San Diego
HHJ is an outstanding law firm that goes above and beyond for their clients. The level of professionalism from everyone I worked with was more than I could have ever expected. I was involved in an accident and Elliot Jung resolved my matter in the best way possible. Shelby Cardoza kept in touch with me during my recovery and made sure every detail about my case was documented and addressed. I don’t have enough good things to share about this law firm. Thank you for all you did!
