What if Someone Won’t Share Insurance Information after a Car Crash?

A car accident is unfortunately a situation that many of us find ourselves in, and it’s often due to another person’s negligent actions. If you find yourself in this position, you’ve probably heard many times that you need to get the insurance information from the other party involved. This isn’t usually a problem, but what happens when the other person refuses to share their insurance information? It’s important to know what steps to take.

If the other driver refuses to give you their insurance information, consider taking the following steps:

Call the Police

If you are involved in a car accident, you should always call 911 to report the incident as soon as possible. This is especially important if the other driver refuses to turn over their insurance information. If this occurs, don’t engage any further with the other party. Wait for the police to arrive so they can handle the situation. Additionally, the police can document the other driver’s refusal in their accident report if they still won’t provide their insurance information to the police.

Under Colorado law, all motor vehicle accidents must be reported, and drivers are required to show the other party their driver’s license when requested.

In some circumstances, just the mention of calling the police might convince the other drive to provide this information. If this still doesn’t work, just wait for the police to arrive.

Obtain Other Information

Even if you can’t get the other driver’s insurance information, there is other important information you can take note of. Make sure you take a picture of the driver’s car and their license plate. In the photos, include the make and model of the vehicle. Additionally, you should write down as much information about the other driver as possible: what they look like, what they’re wearing, how tall they are, and any other identifying features.

Another helpful step you can take is to obtain information from any witnesses to the accident. You should try to get their name and phone number so that they can be interviewed later. Try to encourage them to wait until the police arrive so they can provide a statement right away.

File a Claim With Your Insurance Company

Once you’ve obtained the other driver’s insurance information, you should report the accident to your insurance company. They will request the other driver’s information and will speak with their insurance company directly. Your insurance company will try to determine who was at fault for the accident, in part through reviewing the police report and any other facts they can gather regarding the accident.

If The Other Party Doesn’t Have Insurance

If you determine that the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you will need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company if you have that type of coverage. Many drivers in Colorado have this type of coverage unless they specifically denied it. If you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, you may be out of luck. You can still try to file a claim with your own insurance under your collision coverage, but you won’t be able to receive any other compensation you have been entitled to from the other party.

If you were involved in a car accident and the other driver wasn’t willing to share their insurance information, contact a Denver car accident lawyer today to set up a free consultation. We are always here to help.