What happens to a person who has a small accident and finds out thaat their insurance was cancelled about a ye

AGLaw

The bad news: you are personally liable for property damage caused by your negligence. Without insurance, you must pay out of pocket. Having liability cancelled a year ago, implying that you just "found out" will likely not fly with the other driver or with the police (i.e. were you cited for no liability?).

The good news: chances are, if the damage is minimal (from your description) you would have had to pay the insurance deductible anyway, thereby not involving insurance.

More importantly, from a legal perspective, the other driver's case would be considered a bad case and not appealing to most attorneys: minimal damages, no personal injuries, no liability insurance coverage. Believe me, most attorneys would pass this case up.

You have two options: (1) wait for the other driver to make demand and then settle for what you can pay out of pocket (get a good inspection of the vehicle damage first), or (2) even though it is ethically-challenged, has some tough ramifications for you and other driver, and deserves serious reflection, simply refuse to pay for the damages.

Your situation should serve as a reminder that we all need uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. Good luck!

Richard W

Give me a break.
If your memory is so bad that you can't remember your insurance hasn't been paid for a YEAR, you have no business driving anyway!
If you're driving uninsured on purpose, the full penalty described in the law should be applied.

Come on, you knew your insurance had been canceled for "non-payment". You, shuld have notice when the bills come to your house. The Insurance company should have send you bills for non-payments!!

TIMOTHY D L

WE continue to live

CowboyBill

BooHoo.....you have been driving without insurance for a year, just pay the man for the damages.

BusyOldBag

What do you mean you just found out? Didn't you get a bill? If you were cancelled for non-payment then they would have sent you a letter stating this. If you never got the letter you would have recieved letters from them wanting you to get reinsured with their company. What kind of company lets a 40 year customer go without trying to get them back? I think you need to see an attorney about your insurance company not sending you a letter. I feel they should have. Did you pay the bill? Call your bank and see if the check was recieved. They should be able to check back a year. If they accepted payment they may still have to cover you?
I do believe this can happen because I was driving on expired tags one time for 6 months. I honestly thought I had paid and got new tags until one day a highway patrol officer stopped me. I was shocked that I had gone that long without knowing.

pass_the_ammo_productions@rogers.com

The insurance company by law has to inform you that your insurance has been cancelled and for what reason.

oklatom

Has anyone had the same thing happen to them? Do you mean are any of us so stupid we don't know our insurance coverage has been suspended for over a year due to non payment? I very much doubt it. And before you start crying you didn't know, and they didn't tell you, obviously you knew when the bill came due and there was no bill that something was wrong. Consider yourself lucky the state didn't pull your license for not having insurance. They do that in Oklahoma, if you don't keep your insurance up, if it is canceled for non payment, your license is suspended. The next time you are stopped you are arrested and your vehicle is towed.

momoftrl

gee, my insurance was cancelled when i stopped paying my bill too.

purrfectsandcastle

How can you have not known your insurance had been canceled? Your into a bad one. Have you checked with MVA to see what type of state fine you have. You better it's probably more then your damage to your car.

dcm

thats just unlucky

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