In 2019, there were 45,524 reported car accidents in Washington State. You must have physical proof of your insurance when driving. So no matter what, keep calm and stay where you are. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Washington State law also mandates driving insurance to protect others who may be injured in a car accident you are found at fault for. And once you get your license back, youll be required to provide, additional proof of financial responsibility, from an approved insurance company, or you can get a, . But if it does happen, heres what you need to know. Policy Limits, Litigation, and Personal Injury Lawsuits, Dont Haggle with Insurance Companies On Your Own, Every driver in Washington is required to carry liability insurance, PIP or Personal Injury Protection insurance. Call Our Car Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Case. At that point, your only other option is to sue the at-fault driver for the remainder of the damages. A fantastic way to do this is by calling the Powell Law Firm, the best law firm in Missouri with incredible lawyers who ensure an excellent attorney-client relationship and a high-quality service. you are not at fault for the accident; the damage is less than $15,000; the other driver has made a claim on their insurance; What happens if neither party in a car accident has insurance? Many people believe that they dont need an attorney when filing an insurance claim. For example, dont apologize to the other driver if you were not at fault or if youre not certain who was at fault. Being required to file an SR-22 form (certification of insurance coverage) to legally drive in the future. 1. The police can issue citations and make a report about what caused the accident, but the, insurance companies are the ones who assign fault, This is why its crucial to get through. Call the DMV to obtain your status. You must take it to any driver licensing office or mail it to: Driver Records Department of Licensing PO Box 9030 Olympia WA 98507-9030; What if I don't have a Washington driver license? Therefore, they may blame the other driver, even if their clients were at fault. Message. Some states are no pay/no play states. License reinstatement fees. For example, imagine you are in a car accident and are found to be jointly responsible with the other driver. Your state's laws and your insurance company heavily influence . Therefore, they must remain calm and follow these steps: The first thing that needs to be done is alert the required authorities, such as the police station and medical services. This means when an accident occurs, the person who was at-fault will pay for the injuries and damages caused. It is no defense to these lawsuits to tell the court, "I can't pay that amount." If you were involved in a car accident without insurance, and the police find out you were driving without insurance, you could be fined. Washington follows the pure comparative negligence theory. Otherwise, you could file a lawsuit to recover damages. This would pay out in the event that you are injured, regardless of whose fault the accident was. Potential jail time. These rules can prevent you from making a claim for non-economic damages (medical costs, pain and suffering, etc.) Accident: Try to gather as much information after the accident - the other driver's details, names and contacts of any witnesses, and photos of the incident. In fact, 45 fatalities were due to alcohol-related accidents. No one expects to be involved in an accident and its a stressful experience. Under Louisiana's "Wallet Program," a digital image of the driver's license presented via the driver's cellphone is sufficient. pays for damages to your car caused by any kind of collision, and, covers losses caused by things like severe weather, theft, or vandalism., How to find temporary car insurance in Washington state, Driving without insurance can increase premiums, In addition to the fines and possible license suspension, getting, has another unpleasant result: You can expect to have to, for several years after the violation. Take pictures of the accident scene, the position of the vehicles, and anything else that might help tell the story of how the accident happened. With savings like that, you might even find yourself being able to afford more coverage than you thought! Before submitting a lost wages claim, you should know . More than a dozen states follow some version of what's known as a "no-fault" car insurance system. If the case goes to trial and the other driver obtains a judgment against you, they have a number of options available to try to get some or all of that judgment satisfied, including garnishing your wages in some cases. A lump sum is paid out if you find yourself unable to work due to an accident, or if you die and your family is left struggling financially. If they find their insurance policyholder to be at fault, they will make a settlement offer. So, if you live in a no-fault state and you don't have insurance, even if you're at fault for the accident, the other driver probably can't name you as a defendant in a lawsuit and seek compensation directly from you. When it comes to the compensation you receive for an accident, both economic and non-economic damages are taken into account. If youve suffered injuries in a car accident and were taken to a hospital and received treatment, you might consider having a lawyer look at your case. Furthermore, you can sue or be sued over a car accident without a police report. The answer to these questions depends on the circumstances of the accident as well as the state where the accident occurred. On the other hand, the not-at-fault driver may still face legal penalties for not being insured, and the state may prevent them from receiving full financial compensation for the accident claim. If you have an accident and neither party involved has insurance that covers damage to their vehicle, then neither party will be able to make an insurance claim. 2. So instead of making a claim against the driver, the injured person will make a claim against their own insurance policy who will pay regardless of fault. Alabama follows a fault-based compensation system. For instance, one driver could be 30% responsible for the accident, meanwhile the other driver is 70% responsible. One person could be responsible for 100% of the damages, or 10 people could all be 10% responsible, depending on the circumstances. Youre entitled to be compensated for not being able to enjoy the things you once enjoyed. If there are no errors, you can also submit an expungement request with the DMV. Although in most American states, everyone must have liability insurance to be allowed to drive, there are two states in which drivers can choose not to hire an insurance company. You are legally required to report an accident to the Washington Department of Transportation (DOT) if it causes death, property damage over $700, or injury to any party. Some subjective factors that significantly influence the settlement amount include: Our team handles accident cases every day and we have the techniques and contacts we need to get you what you deserve. Key takeaways. Ill admit, Im young with 2 accidents. This means any injured party is able to recover damages from any party at fault. If you believe the other driver was at fault, Legal Aid recommends you write a letter of demand, asking them to pay for your car and other costs. If you have been injured in an accident, even if it was your fault, call the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) on 1300 656 919 immediately for help with making a claim, as strict time limits apply. Although these roads do not account for all accidents in Washington State, its good to be aware of the worst areas to take extra care when driving: Washington is a comparative negligence state. If multiple people share fault, the damages recovered will reflect this by being proportionately reduced. Call for a free consultation 509.866.4166. There may be a small administrative fee, but youll avoid license suspension. Answer a few questions and you're even eligible for a free case evaluation. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You may be entitled to significantly more than they are offering, which is why its best to have an attorney review the settlement and give you their expert advice. Therefore, the other driver's insurance company must pay for all the damages they caused, and the not-at-fault driver can even file a lawsuit and take them to court. This must be done within four days of the accident occurring. In this final scenario, if you are at fault, you may be responsible for paying for damage you caused to the other car and any other property. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Do you know how to reset the Bluetooth in a Mini Cooper? Are you sure you want to rest your choices? If youve missed time from work, then youre entitled to be compensated for the time youve missed. If you have suffered a personal injury in a car accident, get in touch today and let us handle the case for you. Washington State law requires all drivers to have auto insurance to protect others from accidents and injuries. In addition, the Department of Motor Vehicles in most states will also impose penalties that include the suspension or revocation of your driver's license, usually for a period from a few months to one year. you'll need to pay the DMV a $750 civil penalty to restore your driver license. updated Sep 13, 2022 Driving without insurance in Washington State can result in serious penalties, depending on the circumstance. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) I have no auto insurance. She earned her JD from UCLA School of Law and was an adjunct professor at the start of her career, teaching paralegal studies and related courses. The doctors report will be additional evidence for your case. Past performance is not indicative of future results. On the other hand, non-economic damages include: Although these damages are highly subjective, they are calculated by multiplying the economic damages by 1, 2, 3, or 4, depending on the severity of the accident. Although 32,106 resulted in no injuries, 325 were fatal and 973 resulted in serious injuries. Car accidents can be terrifying experiences. On an additional note, you can read about whether or not someone, Powell Law Firm |All Rights Reserved. A non-fault claim is made when you are not to blame for an accident. If you do not have an automobile liability insurance policy, you are personally responsible for paying these damages to the injured person. Go to License eXpress, which is the DOL website. If thats only $25,000, then thats all youre going to get from the insurance company. The at-fault driver is still responsible for the damage they cause in an accident, even if it's more than their car insurance coverage limits. Being involved in a car accident is a stressful and often traumatizing time. That is why a personal injury attorney is important. Therefore, they may blame the other driver, even if their clients were at fault. Keep a copy of the letter. This may happen if the mandatory time the infraction remains on your record has passed but it has not been removed. Because Washington is a pure comparative negligence state, youll be, of the other drivers damages, and that driver can file a lawsuit against you to recover these damages if you are without insurance., drivers license will be suspended for three years, if you are found to be uninsured after an accident.. Penalties, depending on the circumstance amount. make a settlement offer fact, 45 were... Terms of use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy additional! Expungement request with the other driver is 70 % responsible for paying these damages to the injured person be unchanged... 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