What happens if you get into a car accident uninsured?

Car insurance is mandatory in the UAE. If you get into a car accident without insurance then it is very complicated. The result of a car accident without insurance may result in heavy consequences. 

What should you do when you get in an accident without insurance?

Accidents without insurance are scary and you should be wondering what will happen if a person is at fault for having done the accident and has no insurance. Below are the steps that you should take in these situations. 

When you are at fault?

In an accident, if you don't have insurance, inform the police officer that you do not have insurance. There may be various reasons why you might not have insurance. If there is a serious accident with several injuries, then you should report the incident. 

The other driver may file a car insurance claim with the insurance company and you should be ready to pay the finance charges. The losses like vehicle damages and medication expenses due to the accident should be borne by you and you should be financially responsible for the accident.

When you are at fault then you should be responsible for paying for the expenses from your pocket. Pay all the penalties as per the legal requirements. You may also face jail term based on the legal decision given by the jurisdiction. 

Payment of penalty will be imposed, if you have repeated the same offense in the past then you may have to face serious consequences.  

The car can be impounded. Driver’s license will be seized and this will be for a period of time. The car insurance that you take in the future will be much higher because there was an accident with the car and you did not have insurance over it. 

Also, Check: How many times a year can you claim your car insurance

When you are NOT at fault?

If you are not at fault in the accident then you can file a claim through the third party stating the driver's fault with the insurance company. In most cases, the insurance from the driver’s side will provide compensation. This compensation amount will be a portion of the loss or the total loss. 

In some cases, you may have to take legal proceedings on the incident and take the driver to court. In this situation, find out the process of legal proceedings and file a lawsuit within the jurisdiction. Once you file a lawsuit, you will have a time period and settlement will be provided through the legal authorities. 

There are penalties for not having insurance. You should be ready to pay the penalty. If you are driving without insurance then you are taking a risk. You can avoid all the expenses just by having insurance and driving carefully. 

Even if you are not the cause for the accident and it is your second or third offense then the authorities may suspend your license and your car may get impounded. 

The car insurance company will impose a higher insurance premium when you purchase the insurance going forward.

Not having insurance proof

A person driving a car should carry proof of insurance with them while driving the car every time. If you have met with an accident the police will first ask for a license and insurance document. Sometimes drivers will fall into a situation where they have insurance but the insurance coverage will not be active for the present and future dates. 

There are two different aspects such as not having insurance and not having insurance proof. If you have insurance and you are into the unforeseen event then the result will be less impactful. But, when you are in an accident and you do not have insurance then the result will be more serious than otherwise. 

When you are in an accident and If you inform the police that you have insurance then the police will find out through their ways if you have insurance or not. If you do not have insurance proof then you will be asked to go to court. In court, you will be asked to show the insurance proof. Show the insurance coverage document to the court.

Finding affordable Car Insurance

There are various factors that are applied by the insurance company in determining the car insurance rate. These factors include residential location, driver driving history, car model and other factors associated with the car and the owner of the vehicle. When you are looking for car insurance at the lowest price you should follow the below steps.

• Compare the car insurance quotes at different companies to know the cheap insurance rate.
• Search for discounts that are offered by the insurance company. Discounts are offered for paperless documentation, enhancing cars with safety features, maintaining good driving habits and good driving history, increasing your deductibles and others. 
• If you have a history of car insurance lapse then the insurance company will consider you as a high-risk driver. Many major insurance companies will provide the coverage but the insurance cost will be higher. Ensure that you have a good history to avoid the additional expenses on the insurance policy. If you have a bad history of driving then you can go for companies which are specialised in providing insurance for higher-risk drivers. 
• Most violations will be reduced if you have supporting documentation but if you do not have supporting documents then it becomes difficult to get insurance at lower prices. Take the help of experts who can guide you in finding the best policy which will fall under your budget and that fits your requirements. 

Takeaway

It is illegal to drive without car insurance anywhere in the UAE. If you meet with an accident without having insurance then the results will depend on the severity of the accident. The possible penalties for driving without car insurance are suspension of license, penalty and imprisonment for a period of time. It is always a worst-case scenario when you meet with an accident and not having car insurance is even more dangerous. The severity will depend on the incident and whose fault it was in the unfortunate event. In the future, while buying insurance you should be ready to pay for costly insurance, the police will levy a high penalty to the driver. Always make sure that when you are driving you should have insurance documents with you and also the insurance proof along with you.