What Happens If I’m in a Car Accident with an Unlicensed Driver?

Even a fairly minor car accident can turn a day from good to bad in a split second. But the situation could become even worse if you discover that the other driver doesn’t have a valid driver’s license.

If you were injured in a car crash with an unlicensed driver, you might wonder what options you have to recover financial compensation. Don’t lose hope. An experienced Fort Wayne car accident attorney with Truitt Law Offices can help.

Since 1991, Truitt Law Offices has defended the rights and interests of injured victims in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas of Indiana. Our decades of combined legal experience helps us handle even the most complex injury cases. We want to see our clients make a full recovery. That’s why we work hard to build a strong relationship with each of our clients and ensure they have a positive experience.

After you’ve been in a car accident with an unlicensed driver, act quickly to protect your legal right to demand accountability from the at-fault driver. Contact Truitt Law Offices for a free case review. We want to help you seek financial compensation for the injuries and losses that you’ve suffered.

Unlicensed Drivers and Liability

Whether or not a driver has a license to operate a vehicle doesn’t determine fault for a car crash. Violations of other traffic laws like speeding or running a stop sign could be considered negligence, but driving without a valid license usually is not the cause of a crash.

If you’re in a crash with a vehicle operated by an unlicensed driver, you could be found at fault for the crash even though the other driver lacked a license. But, if the unlicensed driver was to blame for the crash, you could be eligible to seek compensation, just like any other collision caused by negligence.

Unfortunately, depending on the situation, the driver’s lack of a license might affect your ability to actually secure compensation for your injuries. For example, if the driver does not have a license, they might also not have an auto insurance policy to provide compensation if they cause a crash.

How to Protect Yourself During an Accident with an Unlicensed Driver

When you discover that the other driver does not have a valid license, you can take steps to help protect your rights. Following the right steps could improve your claim for recovering compensation for any injuries.

After a crash with an unlicensed driver:

• Contact law enforcement. You and your attorney will want a copy of a police crash report, which should note that the other driver did not have a valid license.
• Note the vehicle make, model, and registration number of the unlicensed driver’s car.
• Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, debris and marks in the road, road lines, traffic controls, and any visible injuries you suffered.
• Notify your insurer about the accident as soon as possible to protect your eligibility to file an uninsured motorist claim if necessary.
• Seek medical attention to identify all the injuries you suffered in the crash and get proper care.
• Talk to a car accident attorney to learn more about your options for pursuing compensation for your injuries.

Finding Insurance Coverage in a Crash with an Unlicensed Driver

If an unlicensed motorist was operating their own vehicle, they might also fail to have the required liability insurance coverage required by law in Indiana. Insurance companies only issue policies to drivers with valid licenses. Even if the driver had a valid license and insurance policy, the insurance company might terminate its policy or allow the policy to lapse if the driver’s license expires or is suspended.

If the unlicensed driver’s insurance policy is still in effect at the time of the accident, you might be able to file a claim. However, this claim might be complex because the other driver’s insurance company may try to deny or disclaim coverage because the unlicensed driver breached the policy by not having a valid driver’s license.

If an unlicensed driver operates a vehicle without the owner’s permission, they are effectively driving a stolen vehicle. The insurance company that issued a policy for that vehicle likely will not provide coverage for an accident that involves the stolen car. But if an unlicensed driver gets behind the wheel with the owner’s permission, then the owner’s insurance company might be forced to provide coverage for an accident caused by the unlicensed driver.

Sometimes, unlicensed drivers operate a vehicle for work purposes. When this happens, the driver’s employer might be liable for the driver’s negligence. Your attorney might also seek compensation for the employer’s own negligence in directing or allowing an employee to drive without a license.

If the unlicensed at-fault driver has no insurance coverage, there could be other options. You might be eligible to turn to your own insurance policy for compensation for your injuries if you have purchased uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. When an at-fault driver does not have liability insurance, UM coverage replaces the coverage that the at-fault driver should have.

You might also have purchased personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (med pay) coverage for your car insurance policy, which can cover certain medical expenses or lost wages.

Can I Pursue a Claim for Damages?

After you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by an unlicensed driver, you might be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation for losses you’ve incurred due to the accident from any insurance policy covering the uninsured driver, your own insurance policy, or directly from the at-fault unlicensed driver.

Compensation in an unlicensed driver car accident claim can include money for:

• Medical treatment for injuries suffered in the accident
• Physical therapy and other long-term rehabilitation or personal care
• Past and ongoing loss of income or wages, or loss of future expected earnings and benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress or trauma.
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life
• Vehicle and other property damage

Contact a Car Accident Attorney

If you were injured in a car accident caused by an unlicensed driver, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights and interests. Call or contact a car accident attorney from Truitt Law Offices today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more.

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What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite

Because most of us have dogs, have had a dog as a pet, or know someone who does, a dog bite or attack can be a shocking experience. You might not know what to do next, especially if you’ve suffered severe injuries.

If someone else’s dog bit you or your child, you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for the resulting medical bills and other losses you might be forced to incur. Fortunately, the law allows you to seek compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Depending on the situation – and particularly if you can file a claim against their homeowners’ insurance policy – recovering the money you’re owed might not threaten your relationship with the dog’s owner.

For over 40 years, the attorneys of Truitt Law Offices have represented the interests of injured victims in Fort Wayne and throughout Indiana. Our attorneys work diligently to build strong, successful relationships with all of our clients. We care about our clients’ recovery and work to get our clients the resources they need to move forward after life-altering dog bites.

After a dog bite or attack, contact our firm for a free case review. We can discuss what steps to take after your injury and how our firm can help you recover financial compensation from the dog’s negligent or reckless owner.

Call 911

If you suffer a dog bite or attack and the animal is loose, call 911 to report the incident. The authorities can take steps to protect other members of the public from injury if the dog continues to act aggressively or viciously. They’ll try to locate and secure the animal, which is important. You need a vet to check the animal for diseases like rabies.

Seek Medical Attention

Seek medical attention for your dog bite injury as soon as possible. Depending on the breed of the dog, the viciousness of the attack, and where you were injured, a dog bite can cause serious injuries, including severe bleeding, soft tissue injuries, and even fractured bones. Some dogs’ mouths and saliva carry harmful viruses and bacteria. By seeking prompt medical treatment, you can help avoid further damage to the bite area. Proper care should reduce your risk of dog bite complications, such as infection.

Identify the Dog Owner

It’s vital to locate and contact the dog’s owner, especially if the owner was not present at the time of the attack. The owner of the aggressive dog might be held liable for your injuries. In a personal injury claim, you can demand compensation for the expenses and losses you sustained due to the dog bite or attack.

It’s understandable not to want to initiate legal action against the dog’s owner if they are a family member, friend, neighbor, or someone else you know. In most cases, dog bite settlements are paid by homeowners’ liability insurance, renters’ insurance, or another insurance policy. If the dog owner has insurance coverage, the insurer, not your friend or neighbor, will pay for your injuries.

Document Your Injuries

Document your injuries right away, starting by taking photographs of the injuries you suffered from the dog attack. Remember to keep copies of your dog bite medical records, including invoices, bills, and receipts for expenses you incur during your treatment. If you miss time at work, keep records of your paystubs or income statements. Finally, consider taking notes from time to time to document your recovery and the impact of the attack and your injuries on your life.

Report the Incident to Animal Control

It’s important to report the dog bite or attack to local animal control authorities. Depending on the circumstances, animal control might seize and quarantine the dog that attacked you, especially if the dog’s vaccination history is not known or it was previously violent toward people or animals. You’ll be helping keep your community safe by documenting the incident with the proper municipal department.

How Is Dog Bite Injury Compensation Determined?

A dog bite injury can result in significant financial expenses and considerable personal harm. A dog bite injury settlement is designed to compensate for both. In a dog bite claim, you might be entitled to recover financial compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including ER and hospital bills, prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, and physical therapy
• Lost income if you missed time from work or lost future earning ability due to disability
• Physical pain
• Emotional suffering, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression caused by the attack
• Loss of quality of life due to physical scarring or disability from the dog attack
• Property damage, such as the repair or replacement cost of damaged clothing, jewelry, glasses, or watches

Should You Get a Lawyer for a Dog Bite?

The best way to know if your dog bite qualifies is to speak with an experienced Fort Wayne dog bite lawyer, like ours at Truitt Law Offices.

Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to advocate on your behalf after suffering a dog bite injury can have many benefits. These include:

• Investigating the circumstances of the attack to determine whether the “one-bite” rule applies to your case
• Identifying the dog’s owner and determining the availability of insurance coverage, such as homeowners’ or renters’ insurance, that can provide you with compensation
• Collecting evidence and building a case to establish the dog’s owner negligence and liability
• Preparing and filing a claim for compensation that incorporates a solid legal argument
• Handling all communications with the insurance company so that you can avoid stressful or contentious encounters with the dog’s owner
• Negotiating an insurance settlement that provides you with fair and full compensation
• Pursuing your claim in court if necessary

If somebody else’s dog injured you, contact Truitt Law Offices today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation. You can speak to an experienced Indiana dog bite lawyer about what you might be owed. Let us explain how you might recover compensation for the injuries, medical expenses, and harm that you’ve incurred due to the dog owner’s negligence.

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