Can a Driver Refuse To Give Insurance Information In a Car Accident?
Posted on Jun 30, 2015
Getting into a car accident is stressful enough without having to deal with an uncooperative person. However, if the driver refuses to provide you with their insurance information, there are still several options available to you, and you can even retain a lawyer to help pursue a difficult to find driver. The question is why would someone be uncooperative in the first place?
Reasons for Not Providing Insurance Information
There are several reasons why a driver would refuse to provide insurance information such as:
- He does not have insurance.
- He is driving a stolen car.
- He is driving someone else’s car without permission.
- He had been drinking alcohol.
- His license is suspended.
- He has far too many accidents already on his record.
- He has high insurance premiums due to previous accidents and/or violations.
Repercussions for Not Providing Insurance
The repercussions depend on the reasons why the other driver didn’t provide insurance. If the driver refused to show insurance information because he isn’t insured, significant penalties could be imposed on him.
Some states will even impose administrative or criminal penalties. Just about every state will impose fines of hundreds or thousands of dollars. Plus, in most states, the Department of Motor Vehicles will impose penalties, such as revocation or suspension of their license for a period of several months to a year. Criminal charges can be brought up if the driver was drunk and you were injured.
Things You Can Do
Call the Police
Most states require you to report all accidents either by filling out a report of the accident after the fact or going directly to the station. If the driver will not provide you their insurance information, call the police. This will save you the hassle of having to fill out an accident report, and it might even encourage the driver to give you their information.
Taking Identification Details
Take note of the make and model of their vehicle, his car registration number, and any other distinguishing features of their vehicle like marks, scratches, or window stickers. This will make it easier for the police to track him down.
Get Your Insurance Company Involved
Many drivers have made complaints online that they were not successful in reaching an uncooperative driver after an accident to resolve insurance matters. Think about it, why would the driver return your phone call if they fled the scene without giving you their information? The good news, you really don’t have to go through the trouble.
Insurance information is made public. All it takes is bringing the other driver’s plate number into the DMV to locate their identity and carrier information.
If the uncooperative driver attempts to leave the scene of the accident, quickly grab your phone, and take a snapshot of the license plate number, or write it down on a piece of paper if you have a pen/paper handy. You should also take note of the driver’s appearance and details of the accident. The rest can be handled by a lawyer or your insurance company; your interests should be protected.
An important thing to keep in mind when in this type of situation is that there just might be a good reason why the other driver is refusing to hand over their information. There is no reason why you should be putting yourself in danger. Your personal safety could be at stake if you persist since they might be willing to do whatever it takes to not provide their details. Never push the situation and put yourself at risk; always rely on your insurance agency or a lawyer to get this information out of them.
