Being involved in a car accident in Washington is never something you hope for, but it can be significantly more frustrating if you find out that the person who crashed into you does not have insurance. Ultimately, this means you are left to forge the costs of the repairs on your own unless you can successfully get the money from the responsible party. Being aware of how to proceed with a motorist that does not have insurance can help you to make the right decisions to hopefully limit the impact your situation has on you.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to contact the local authorities right away. Once they have arrived on the scene, calmly explain the situation and describe what happened. According to American Family Mutual Insurance Company, be proactive in collecting information and evidence from the scene. Ask the other driver for his or her contact information including a working phone number, a name and an address if possible. Take pictures of the damage that happened on both vehicles and try to get shots from different angles. These photographs can be incredibly helpful for adjusters and estimators as they work to decide how much the damage is worth.
One of the most important things to remember not to do is to accept any kind of payment from the other party. Because being uninsured is a crime and is punishable by law, the other motorist will most likely be fined. Additional claims filed by you could only complicate his or her situation so you may be offered cash in an effort to prevent you from pursuing legal action. However, it will take some time before you have a bottom line for the financial costs of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle, and if you accept cash in lieu of doing anything else, you may be left hurting when you have to pay the rest on your own.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.