Liability Issues with the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Can Drag On Indefinitely!
I was involved in a collision with an undocumented driver who lacked a valid driver’s license and ran a red light. I was at a stoplight, and as soon as it turned green, I began to move when he struck my vehicle from the left. Witnesses at the scene corroborated my account to the police, who determined that the other driver was at fault for running the red light. I also documented the incident with my dash cam and shared the footage with my insurance company. The police report contains all the pertinent details.
I assumed this would be a straightforward case, but four months later, the other driver’s insurance has still not accepted liability, citing that they are conducting further investigations. They claim their insurer is disputing the police report and has found a witness willing to contradict it.
I contacted the Department of Insurance and an attorney but felt like I was speaking to a brick wall. They essentially told me to take legal action in civil court. However, I can’t sue the insurance company directly because I don’t have a contract with them. Since the driver at fault is undocumented, pursuing him would be futile. To complicate matters further, my vehicle was deemed totaled in the accident and has already been auctioned off by the police.
I’m perplexed by the Department of Insurance and the state’s allowance for companies to insure individuals without a valid driver’s license, knowing full well that when an incident occurs, they can easily evade accountability, and their insurance will not provide compensation. I was shocked by how accommodating the officers were when he stated, “I don’t have a driver’s license.” They just said, “No worries, just give me what you have.” Really?
I’m not looking for advice or help; I just wanted to share my frustrating experience. As a precaution, I’ve now added collision coverage to my policy. I previously had uninsured motorist coverage, but since this individual had insurance, my insurer informed me that they couldn’t assist me.
I’m really sorry to hear about your frustrating situation. It’s incredibly disheartening when you do everything right, have evidence on your side, and yet still find yourself caught in a complicated web of bureaucracy that seems to benefit the wrong party. The fact that the other driver was undocumented is especially troubling, as it compounds the issue of accountability.
Your experience raises significant questions about the insurance industry’s practices and regulations. It’s perplexing that someone without a valid driver’s license can be insured, and it seems unfair that you, as an innocent party in this incident, are having to navigate these obstacles while the at-fault driver effectively slips through the cracks. The officers’ response to his lack of a license is equally alarming—it’s difficult to understand how such a situation can happen without serious repercussions.
It’s good to hear that you’ve added collision coverage to your policy in response to this. While it’s unfortunate that it had to come after such a distressing experience, hopefully, it will provide you with peace of mind moving forward. Thank you for sharing your story; sometimes just voicing these experiences helps shed light on the larger issues that need addressing. Wishing you all the best as you continue to deal with the aftermath of this incident.