Accident w/ car whose insurance card is under previous owner's name?

Question

Yesterday, I was rear-ended while in traffic on the freeway. After a long hit-and-run story (I'll spare you the details), the highway patrol finally found the other driver. He claimed that he recently purchased the car from a third party and that the car is still insured under the previous owner's name. The highway patrol officer confirmed that the insurance card was up-to-date. The driver did not, however, purchase his own car insurance. What do you think the chances are that the car is still insured? I really don't want to report this to my car insurance unless there's another insurance company who's willing to front the bill. I'd hate for my premiums to go up despite the fact that I was not at fault. I'd appreciate any insight.

I asked the officer whether the other driver had purchased the car from a family member, but, because the driver's English was poor, the officer could not obtain an answer. (If it was a friend or family member, I was hoping that the insurance had not been canceled.) I have insurance through Costco who I think serves as the middle man for American Express. I'll have to check my policy but I'm hoping that my premiums won't go up since I wasn't at fault. This guy has neither a valid U.S. drivers' license nor car insurance. He really shouldn't be driving on the street, as demonstrated by his reckless driving! Grrr!

Answer 1

If you are not at fault and your insurance is out no cash, your rates should not increase. I think the same the as you do, that there is very little chance the previous owners insurance company will cover any losses. Nonetheless, the person at fault owes you for your damages, and if he then gets paid back by insurance, good for him. Although it seems like insurance is paying you directly, they really aren't, they are just covering the person who is insured. Report it and let your company handle it.

Answer 2

Why did the guy driving the car have the previous owner's insurance card?

Either way, the vehicle was not insured. Once sold, the ownership transfers away from the previous owner. This sounds like a stolen car or something.

If you have Uninsured Motorist clause in your own insurance you will be covered and not suffer any raised premiums since it wasn't your fault.

What insurance company do YOU have? Let's hope it is one of the big ones.

Answer 3

The "up to date insurance card" may not be up to date, so you're gonna have to call the insurance company and file a claim. The insurance company will do what's called a "coverage investigation." If coverage is valid you're golden, if it's not valid, you're not so golden.

If the prior owner claims they sold the car, they have to prove it by 1) showing bill of sale and/or 2) release of liability turned into the DMV. This kind of thing is complicated...too complicated to go into here, but you're best bet is to just file the claim and let the insurance company deal with it.

In the meantime, file a claim with YOUR insurance company and have them handle the repairs and give YOUR insurance company the other insurance information. If you're not at fault your rates won't rise.

Answer 4

This is soooo beyond your ability to deal with don't even try to.

My suggestion is simply to contact your company promptly, while the episode is still fresh, and file your claim. If you have uninsured coverage your car (and you) will be repaired less any deductible.

They will also handle the mandatory filing and deal with any attempts at recovery from the driver.

If you have any injuries you may have to pursue the individual and the car owner's insurance company unless you also have medical coverage but in any event you will spend a LOT of your own time trying to do this yourself (and you will NOT be compensated for that time).

You have paid for your insurance... now use it.

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Answer 5

I'd doubt that the car is still insured. Why would someone pay insurance on a car they don't own? The card may have said it was up to date but I'd bet that policy was canceled the day of the sale for just this reason. Sorry to say it but I think you're out of luck.

Answer 6

The coverage of the previous proprietor does no practice to you in any respect. It ceased to be useful once you grew to grow to be the owner of the motorcar. providing that the perfect aspects of the V5C style were properly crammed contained in the DVLA will understand that you're the Registered Keeper of the motorcar, so all correspondence from the police will be despatched to you. If there grow to be a delay in sending the style to the DVLA then the previous proprietor should be the only which they contact. he will tell them that he bought the motorcar to you and so from that second onwards you've been wholely responsible for it. hence there'll be no issues for him. You were driving with out coverage. that is a criminal offence less than the line site visitors Act. The duty for the crash, the cost of fix and upkeep, and the criminal penalty should be borne via you. you'd be prosecuted. Your case will be heard in a Justice of the Peace's courtroom, they don't have a jury in those courts. you're able to have penalty factors on your driving licence and fined, and likely charged legal expenditures too. it will be very expensive in fines and expenditures. If everybody were injured then you absolutely were dealing with a detention middle sentence besides. the in hardship-free words element you may do is to be straightforward with the majistrate in courtroom. tell him that you've been taking a probability via driving residing house with out coverage, and desire that they don't superb you very a lot. in case you attempt to plead that it grow to be not your fault because of the rain, or attempt to declare that you "decide on the motorcar" then they're going to evaluate that you're taking the courtroom for fools and boost the superb. you've been stupid and committed a severe offence. do not attempt pathetic excuses in courtroom, they not in any respect artwork. it ought to help your case in case you strengthen your customary of English. What you've written isn't solid. in case you may make your English to a better high quality than that is on your question you'll make a better effective effect in courtroom. once you attempt to purchase coverage ideas-blowing next time you'll discover that the prices will be VERY severe.

Answer 7

I think there's a really good chance that this other car is uninsured.

If the old owner signed the title over to the new owner, in most cases, he can be held "not responsible" for the damages.

Answer 8

if it was not your fault. let your insurance take care of it there's a good chance that his insurance will not pay. the car is not his.