How To Find Out if a Driver Has Insurance in Florida
In Florida, if you suffer injuries that meet a certain threshold because of another driver’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company and recover compensation. Therefore, after you are involved in an auto accident because of another driver’s negligence, one of the most crucial things to do is to find out if the other driver has insurance. Below, we discuss how to find out if a driver has insurance in Florida.
- Ask the Driver for the Insurance Information
The best way to determine if a driver has insurance is to ask them at the accident scene. Florida law requires drivers involved in an auto accident to stop and exchange information. Apart from exchanging insurance information at the accident scene, the following are some other crucial information to exchange;
- Names
- Contact information
- Addresses
- Driver’s license information
- Car license plate information
Unfortunately, sometimes, it is impossible to ask the other driver for their insurance information, or the other driver may refuse to cooperate. If you cannot get this information from the driver, do not panic; you may have other options.
- Talk to the Police
In Florida, when an accident involves injuries or over $500 worth of property damage, you are legally required to call the police and report the accident. When the police arrive at the scene, they will instruct you and the other driver to exchange insurance information or gather the information themselves. You can get the other driver’s insurance information by contacting the police department that handled your accident and asking if the other driver has auto insurance. Also, you can get this information from the accident report written by the police at the accident scene.
- Contact the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles
Suppose you cannot gather insurance information directly from the other driver or the police. In that case, you can obtain this information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Driver’s information is private, but if you are involved in an accident with another driver, the DMV can provide you with the other driver’s insurance information. You can complete a form online to request the other driver’s insurance information.
- Contact Your Insurance Company
Even if another driver is to blame for your accident, you should notify your insurance company of the accident. Your insurance company may be able to help you obtain information about the other driver’s insurance coverage. Insurance companies have the resources to obtain this information.
- Seek Legal Help
Finally, if you experience difficulties obtaining the other driver’s insurance information, it may be helpful to seek the help of an attorney. It is also advisable to contact an attorney if you were involved in a hit-and-run or if the police were not called to the accident scene. Attorneys know how to find out if a driver has auto insurance. Additionally, an attorney can help you handle all insurance company communications. They can negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company on your behalf.
Contact a Lakeland, FL, Car Accident Attorney
If you were involved in an auto accident and need help finding out if the other driver has insurance, contact our skilled Lakeland car accident attorneys at Darla K. Snead P.L. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
