California law requires that all drivers maintain active liability protection on their vehicles. It is illegal to operate a car, truck, or motorcycle without liability insurance. If you’re pulled over and cannot prove that you are insured, you will be fined. Driving without insurance is risky to both you and to the drivers around you.
It’s important to understand how drastic the consequences of driving without liability insurance can be. They goes far beyond having to repair the damage to vehicles. Thanks to Prop 213, which became law in 1996, getting into an accident without insurance can dramatically limit your ability to collect certain types of damages. Damages in a traffic accident cases are assigned one of two titles:economic or noneconomic.
Economic damages include things like repair costs to the vehicle or medical bills, while noneconomic damages include things like pain and suffering caused by the accident. Because of Prop 213, if you are involved in an auto accident and are not insured, you will be unable to collect noneconomic damages. Your economic damages will still be considered fair game, but noneconomic damages will be completely off-limits.
Clearly, driving without insurance is not a good idea. It strictly limits the amount of damages you are able to claim and puts you at a severe disadvantage regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If you’ve recently been involved in an auto accident, it’s a good idea to speak with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer to determine what your exact options are. West Coast Trial Lawyers has a long history of success with car accident cases and can evaluate your case from an expert’s perspective, providing you with the necessary guidance in navigating your next steps.
For more information, please visit www.wctldevnew.wpengine.com or contact us at (888) 539-9582 with any questions.
