Undocumented immigrants of California are required to purchase car insurance to legally drive in the state. Victims of an accident caused by a noncitizen would hopefully be able to seek support from a car insurer, as in a normal accident claim. If an undocumented immigrant were driving while uninsured, victims should have other options to get help with their recovery costs.
Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield helps injured collision victims hold car insurance companies fully liable. We also assist victims with getting support after being hit by an uninsured driver. We offer a free, no-obligation case consultation to all injured victims, so they can learn how to earn full compensation for their damages and injuries.
How Does an Insurance Claim Work If an Undocumented Driver Hits Me in California?
Accident victims may worry about where insurance support will come from if they are struck by an undocumented resident in California. But in many cases, noncitizens will have the same car insurance coverage as U.S. citizens.
California allows people to obtain a California Driver’s License no matter their immigration status. To legally drive, undocumented motorists are still required to get car insurance coverage. Their driver’s license would allow them to purchase a policy from most providers.
These are a few of the sources of support for injured Bakersfield motorists after an accident caused by a noncitizen driver:
- The Undocumented Driver Has Car Insurance: The noncitizen may have full insurance coverage. This would mean the accident claim would be undertaken similarly to an accident with a U.S. citizen. Fault would need to be proven, and then victims could demand help with their medical bills, their lost paychecks, and more. Beware, because any dealings with a car insurance company can leave you facing their unfair tactics. Insurance adjusters can try to falsely blame you for the crash. They may also try to question the severity of your injuries to get away with providing less in a settlement check.
- The Undocumented Driver Doesn’t Have Car Insurance: An accident with an uninsured driver, whether a citizen or not, would usually mean victims would file a claim against their own car insurance policy. Most California car insurance providers include uninsured motorist coverage along with even basic policies. It’s a part of most every policy unless drivers reject it and ask that it be taken off in a written request. When victims have their own car accident coverage or are covered by someone else’s policy, they can seek compensation after being struck by a driver with no coverage. Unfortunately, a victim’s own car insurance provider can also try to limit the support they receive at such a difficult time. A skilled lawyer can help victims hold their car insurance companies fully liable for all damages.
- The Undocumented Driver Is On The Job: In some cases, there may be a third option for support. Many undocumented drivers are in the United States working for U.S. employers. They may be on the road as truck drivers for local farms, or traveling between construction or other job sites, or making deliveries for a local business. In these cases, the employer may be liable for an accident. The employer would usually provide commercial auto insurance coverage for workers, and the policy could be drawn upon by victims in accidents. If the company were sending employees out on roads illegally, without insurance, a lawsuit might be necessary to hold the business liable.
Back to the issue of an uninsured noncitizen, victims may be tempted to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. This is often a frustrating undertaking.
Drivers who don’t have insurance would not usually have a lot of assets. If you were awarded a judgment in a lawsuit, you may never be able to collect on that award. You could go through an expensive trial, only to still be without the support you require to recover your losses due to a collision.
This is why a skilled Bakersfield lawyer would be exploring every insurance option to earn support for you. In some cases, more than one insurer can be called upon to make sure you get what you need to rebuild your life.
What Kinds of Damages Should an Undocumented Driver Accident Settlement Check Cover?
Accident victims must first get help with their hospital bills before they have bill collectors at their doors and risk bankruptcy. All bills now and any expected medical costs in the future should be covered. Repair costs for a damaged vehicle or full replacement money should be a part of the settlement. The paychecks victims lose while missing work must be reimbursed. The physical pain and emotional trauma left for victims to cope with must also factor into the size of a car accident settlement check.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Who Builds Your Case with Powerful Evidence and Fights to Earn You More
If your accident only involves vehicle damage and/or only very minor injuries, you may not need a lawyer’s help to file a damage claim. However, if you suffer a serious injury, and a careless driver caused your accident, contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield to schedule a free consultation. It’s a confidential, no-obligation review of your case with a real Kern County car accident attorney.
We can help with complex cases involving undocumented drivers at fault. We can often earn you much more from an insurance company than you could hope to earn by handling a claim yourself.
The best part is, if you need our help, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay a lawyer. We don’t earn anything unless your case is successful. If we win your case for you, we are paid out of the settlement check an auto insurer must send you.