Car accident, driver doesn't have proper insurance

I was involved in a car accident over the weekend. The driver of the other car went late through a light that turned red while I was traveling forward towards a light that just turned green. The driver probably tried to jump through a light that just turned red thinking that it would take time for cars stopped at the light in the perpendicular direction would take time to start up. But I was in the outside lane where there were no cars in front of me and I crashed the front of my car into the back of his car.

The police came and took down our statements. I had a talk with the other driver first who was nervous. He said he lost his auto insurance information, etc. But the end result I found out is that his insurance had lapsed and it wasn't renewed. After the police arrived, they took statements. I suffered whiplash and had to go to the hospital shortly after the car accident because I was not feeling well. The front of my car was smashed from the collision.

I'm a little worried now that the other driver didn't have insurance. It was his fault and he should pay. The car is under his wife's name too. I haven't yet discussed everything with my insurance company and I was hoping to get some thoughts.

If you struck his car, it is sounding more like you are the one at fault.A green light doesn't mean you should disregard everything in your path. If there was a car in the intersection, you should have slowed, even if you had the green light, or at least swerved to avoid a collision. File it with your insurance. You do carry insurance yourself, correct? If so, even if the other driver is at fault your policy would cover your medicals and repairs in the event the other driver doesn't have coverage or has inadequate coverage.

I hope you reported this to your insurance company.

There all you've got at the present time. Even if you decide to sue the other driver and win what do you really think you'll get?

tammytoma said:

...and I crashed the front of my car into the back of his car.

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You may be found at fault for proceeding into the intersection before it was clear. Regardless of the light, you are responsible for making sure it is safe to cross the intersection. It apparently was not clear when you proceeded, and you apparently proceeded too quick to react and prevent the collision.

It was his fault and he should pay.

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Was the other driver cited fit running the light and not having insurance?
Your insurance company will address this and determine who will pay. You have the option of pursuing the other driver in court if your insurance does not pay. Hopefully you have coverage for uninsured drivers... If not, you might be out of luck.

I haven't yet discussed everything with my insurance company and I was hoping to get some thoughts.

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My thought is that you might answer only the questions they ask and not volunteer too much information. If you tell them what you wrote here you might harm yourself. Don't lie though... That would just lead to more trouble.

Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are known as "optional no-fault" or "choice no-fault" states.

In these states, drivers choose whether they will be held to a no-fault system.

Read what to do about a collision in a no fault state, such as NJ:


How Does a No-Fault Car Insurance Claim Work?

Thank you everybody.