We often have clients call us in a panic that they just had a car accident and have no insurance, concerned that they will be sued for causing the accident. The following is one of many car accident questions asked on avvo.com which attorney Mike Hancock answered in November, 2013.
Question: I was in a small fender bender a week ago. I have no bodily injury insurance and now they are suing me for injuries. It was raining my car hydroplaned and I wasn’t going more than 10 miles an hour. I did receive a ticket for driving too close to the other vehicle. However no one said they were hurt and no ambulance came to the scene. There now suing me. I don’t have any money or assets. What will happen?
Mike Hancock’s Answer: You mention that the accident occurred just a few weeks ago. I doubt that you have been sued. More likely, you received a letter from the injured person’s attorney asking that you provide them with your insurance information, or for you to send the letter to your insurance company. I recommend that you reply to the letter and let them know the name of your auto insurance company, along with your policy number. They will then have your insurance company confirm what coverage you actually had at the time of the accident. You may end up being sued by the injured person, or his insurance company if they pay any uninsured motorist benefits. However, that will most likely not be for many months from now. If that happens, a process server will actually have to serve you with the lawsuit. You will then have twenty days to file, in Court, the appropriate responsive pleading. You may have numerous defenses to their claims, but if you fail to file a responsive pleading within the twenty days after being served, the law deems that you have admitted all of the allegations against you contained in the lawsuit. If the attorney for the injured person finds out you have no liability insurance, and if the injured person has no uninsured motorist coverage, this may all pass without you being sued. Do yourself a favor and purchase bodily injury liability coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage, to avoid this happening in the future.
No insurance Car Accident?
Call now to speak with Attorney Mike Hancock for a free consultation of your rights after a no insurance car accident. Know what you rights are after a car accident. We offer a free, confidential consultation at 813-534-6319. Our phones are answered 24/7/365. You can also reach us by e-mail.
