Why You Need Car Insurance - Even If The Accident Is Not Your Fault
People ask me sometimes, “Do I reeeeeally need auto insurance?”
Short Answer: YES. The law requires it!
If you do not have auto insurance and you cause a collision, you will personally have to pay for the damages and injuries you caused the person you hit.
Ya, ya, ya but what if I drive carefully and don’t cause any crashes – do I really still need it? YES! Notice a theme here?
Here why: Let’s assume you have never caused an accident. You are a very good driver: you obey all the rules of the road and you drive defensively when you notice someone driving erratically. Then someone texting while driving, runs a red light and T-bones you or fails to notice you’ve stopped and rear-ends you.
It really sucks, but it’ll be okay because someone else caused the crash and that person or their insurance “should” pay for everything, right?
Not exactly. Even though the crash was not your fault, you were driving without auto insurance – so you are considered a Proposition 213 driver. What that means is you WILL NOT be compensated for any pain, inconvenience, or suffering.
You are still able to recover for the damage to your vehicle, a rental while your car undergoes repairs, medical bills and lost wages for time missed because the injuries caused by the crash.
That may not seem like a big deal, but if you are a Prop 213 driver who is injured for any period of time – you are not going to get a fair and full settlement. All the time you spend in pain, causing you to miss time with your family and friends, traveling, exercising, or going to school – you get NO COMPENSATION FOR.
Let that sink in. You WILL NOT get compensation for your pain and suffering.
Imagine not being able to pick up and play with your kids because your back is locked up and you’re stuck lying on the couch or bed in pain all day. Imagine you cannot workout or play sports for months because your arm or leg is broken. Sorry, not only is that scar going to remind you of the crash forever but your elbow will always be crooked. AND you get nothing for dealing with all this because you were driving without car insurance.
So do you really need auto insurance? ABSOLUTELY!
ONE MORE THING ABOUT PROP 213: If someone crashes into you but you’ve been drinking or are on drugs – You’re also considered a Prop 213 driver. Even if you had auto insurance at the time and someone else was at fault for the crash! Yet another reason you shoulder NEVER drive under the influence.
Still confused or have any questions? Give Kinaly Law a call right now: (949) 438-1546.
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