Auto accidents can be incredibly dangerous and scary things to go through. Accidents are also very unpredictable. You could walk away completely unscathed with only minor damage to your vehicle.
You could also end up with serious injuries and a totaled car. Insurance is necessary to cover the expenses incurred after accidents, like medical care and vehicle repairs.
However, uninsured drivers may be unsure how to proceed after being struck by another driver. If someone hits you and you do not have insurance, you will not be barred from filing a lawsuit to claim damages for your injuries. In fact, the issue of your lack of insurance is unlikely to be presented in court at all.
However, there may be other complications stemming from your lack of insurance. You could face other legal penalties since driving without insurance is illegal.
Additionally, if you lose your personal injury lawsuit, you may have no coverage at all for your injuries and damages.
If you were hit by another vehicle and suffered injuries, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as you can.
Call our Maryland car accident attorneys for help regardless of your insurance status. Our team is prepared to fight for you and get you the compensation you need. Set up a free, confidential legal consultation with our experienced staff at Rice, Murtha & Psoras. Call (410) 694-7291 to get assistance today.
Bringing a Personal Injury Claim without Auto Insurance in Maryland
The good news is that even without auto insurance, you can still bring a personal injury lawsuit against another driver after an accident. the issue of your insurance, or lack thereof, will likely not even come up in your trial; whether or not someone is insured is not indicative of fault.
However, the topic of your insurance could come up in settlement negotiations.
Maryland uses an at-fault insurance system. Under this system, you are free to file a claim with your own insurance or the other driver’s. This is different from other states that use a no-fault system in which you must seek coverage from your own insurance before getting compensation from the defendant.
If you do not have insurance, your options are limited to suing the other driver to get any coverage. This may complicate your case. Some people ultimately choose to forego a lawsuit if they are covered by their own insurance.
This is more common in cases where the other driver might be at fault, but your damages are minor, and a lawsuit would be too costly. Without any insurance of your own, you might have no other choice than to sue.
If you are unsure about filing a lawsuit after a car accident, call our Baltimore car accident lawyers for guidance. We can help you with or without insurance.
Penalties for Driving without Insurance in Maryland
Even though your lack of insurance does not hinder your ability to bring a lawsuit after a car accident, there may be other consequences. Insurance is legally required of all drivers.
You cannot lawfully operate a vehicle on the roads and highways of Maryland without insurance. While you can certainly bring a lawsuit after an accident, you could be penalized in separate proceedings.
Insurance is also required to properly register your vehicle. If you are cited for driving without insurance after an accident, you might have to pay a fee to restore your registration in addition to the fines for the lack of insurance.
You may also be prevented from ever registering another vehicle until your insurance violation is taken care of. If you attempt to provide fake evidence of insurance to avoid the penalties, you might have to pay up to $1,000 in fines or even spend time in jail.
While the penalties for driving without insurance can be serious, they are separate from your personal injury lawsuit for your car accident. Contact our Easton car accident attorneys for help filing your lawsuit.
How Contributory Negligence Affects Your Ability to Recover Damages After a Car Accident in Maryland
Maryland follows an extremely strict contributory negligence rule. Under this rule, if you are even slightly to blame for the accident, you cannot recover anything. For example, suppose the other driver failed to stop at a stop sign, causing you to crash into them.
Also, suppose that you were texting and driving when you crashed into the other driver and not looking at the road. Even though you had the right of way and the other driver’s actions are predominantly responsible for the accident, you might be contributorily negligent.
The other driver may argue that the accident could have been averted if you had not been texting while driving. If the court agrees, you are barred from recovering anything. Even if you were only 10% to blame and the other driver was 90% at fault, you would be barred from recovery.
If you are barred from recovering damages from the defendant and have no insurance of your own, you have no coverage for your injuries. You could end up paying all your expenses out of pocket. Talk to a Prince George County car accident attorney for help.
Call Our Maryland Car Accident Lawyers
If you were hit in an accident by another driver and you do not have insurance, you will not be prevented from filing a lawsuit. Our Towson auto accident lawyers can help you claim the compensation you need. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free legal consultation.