When negligent drivers refuse to provide their insurance information after a car accident in Arkansas, victims may feel at a loss. Should you find yourself in such a situation, you need to know what steps to take to ensure your access to compensatory damages.
Unfortunately, some drivers in Arkansas might refuse to give you their insurance information after a car accident. A driver may do this in an attempt to keep their insurance premiums low or because they are uninsured. Victims can respond by calling the police, which they should do after any accident, and taking photos of a negligent driver’s license plate. Arkansas car accident victims can also hire an attorney to help identify a responsible party and recover compensatory damages through their own insurance if necessary.
Our lawyers are dedicated to helping Arkansas car accident victims get the damages they deserve after a collision. For a free case evaluation, call our Arkansas car accident lawyers today at (479) 316-0438.
Why Would a Negligent Driver Refuse to Provide Their Insurance After a Car Accident in Arkansas?
Suppose you’ve just been injured in a car accident in Arkansas. Perhaps you’re speaking with a negligent driver and request their car insurance information, and they refuse. Or, even worse, they drive away. Arkansas victims need to know if negligent drivers can do this and how common such behavior is after a car accident.
In Arkansas, car accident victims may rely on a negligent driver’s liability insurance to cover the costs of their injuries. Although Arkansas drivers must carry personal injury protection insurance (PIP) in case of an accident, they must also carry liability insurance to cover a victim’s injuries. To legally own a vehicle and drive in Arkansas, drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury.
A driver may refuse to provide their insurance information after a car accident in Arkansas for several reasons. Perhaps they don’t want their insurance premiums to rise or are actually uninsured. While negligent drivers can refuse to provide their insurance information all they want, it will likely negatively impact them in the future.
Unfortunately, some drivers don’t want to take accountability for their actions. If a negligent driver refuses to provide their insurance information, however, law enforcement or your attorney will likely be able to identify them in the future.
What Should You Do if Someone Won’t Give You Their Insurance After a Car Accident?
Suppose a negligent driver simply refuses to give you their insurance information after a car accident. In that case, there are a few things you can do. The first is to call the police. Any time you are injured in a car accident in Arkansas, you must alert law enforcement. Victims can also take plenty of pictures if their injuries permit and hire a Bentonville car accident lawyer to help get the compensation they deserve.
Call the Police
It’s always wise to call Arkansas police officers after a car accident. If you are injured, doing so becomes especially important. Officers can create a police report that notes all drivers’ information, including a negligent driver’s insurance information. When you call the police, officers can handle a stubborn party who initially refused to provide their insurance information.
Take Pictures
Sometimes, a negligent driver won’t have to tell you that they don’t want to give you their insurance information after a car accident in Arkansas – they’ll just drive away. Often, hit-and-runs occur when a negligent driver doesn’t want their insurance premiums to rise or have no insurance to provide. If your injuries permit you, snap a few photos of a negligent driver’s license plate. Occasionally, eyewitnesses will see a hit-and-run occur and take pictures in an attempt to help an injured party.
Hire an Attorney
If a negligent driver refuses to give you their insurance information, reach out to an Arkansas car accident lawyer. Our attorneys can attempt to identify a negligent driver and uncover their insurance information. Your lawyer can perform an investigation of their own, analyzing security camera footage or eyewitness statements to identify the responsible party. Once your Bella Vista car accident attorney helps you uncover a negligent driver’s insurance, you can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit for compensatory damages.
How Can I Recover Compensation in Arkansas if I Don’t Have a Negligent Driver’s Insurance Information?
In the worst-case scenario, police officers won’t arrive at the scene in time, or you won’t be able to get pictures of a negligent driver’s license plate, leaving you in the dark. While you may feel frustrated and without a path to compensatory damages, your lawyer can still find a way to help you heal from your injuries.
In Arkansas, many drivers have personal injury protection insurance to fall back on if a negligent driver’s insurance doesn’t adequately cover their injuries. While drivers can opt-out of carrying PIP, you may have coverage that helps you pay for medical bills and lost wages. Your Fort Smith car accident attorney can negotiate with your insurance carrier to get you the settlement amount you deserve if a negligent driver refuses to provide their insurance information.
A lawyer can also help Arkansas car accident victims recover damages through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). Depending on your coverage plan, UM/UIM kicks in when a negligent driver has no insurance to offer or doesn’t have sufficient coverage to compensate you. In cases where a driver refuses to provide their insurance information and succeeds in doing so, your attorney can help you understand and utilize your UM/UIM coverage benefits.
Call Our Arkansas Attorneys if Someone Refused to Give You Their Insurance After a Car Accident
Another driver’s negligence or lack of insurance shouldn’t leave you with medical bills and lost wages to cover on your own. For a free case evaluation, call our Farmington car accident lawyers today at (479) 316-0438.