In Fender Bender with NO Car Insurance (Chicago: house, place to live)

[FocusGroupGuy]

Hi All,
I recently bought a car in Iowa and was told that I had commuter insurance until my temp plates expired. A few days later I hit a car in front of me going maybe 5 miles an hour after the light turned green and she started to drive but suddenly hit breaks. She hit the car in front of her and everyone was in an uproar. There was NO damage to any of the cars but the woman in the car in front of me jumped out of the car saying that her neck and back hurt. I waited for the police with the motorists since I thought that I had insurance and therefore had nothing to run from. Needless to say I had been misinformed by the car salesman and had no insurance. At any rate, I received a letter in the mail from her insurance company saying that I caused an accident! I've never even had a ticket in my life and now this!! I was recently laid off and have 3 children and a wife at home. We had to move in with friends due to the economy, so we don't even have our own place to live. I am afraid that they will lie and say that they were hurt and sue me out of house and home. Is there anything that I can do or am I screwed?

[Avengerfire]

Get ready to bend over.


Try to find a pro-bono lawyer.

[long101]

If what your telling is true I would go after the car salesman. Thats just about all you can do

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by FocusGroupGuy

Hi All,
At any rate, I received a letter in the mail from her insurance company saying that I caused an accident! I've never even had a ticket in my life and now this!! I was recently laid off and have 3 children and a wife at home. We had to move in with friends due to the economy, so we don't even have our own place to live. I am afraid that they will lie and say that they were hurt and sue me out of house and home. Is there anything that I can do or am I screwed?

You SHOULD be cited by the state of Illinois for driving without insurance, It is YOUR responsibility to maintain coverage at the state minimum.

But if you don't have any assets, what is the insurance company going to do? It is not like they are going to get anything.

[FocusGroupGuy]

I got a ticket that I will have to pay so don't worry, I have been punished. But before EVERYONE starts attacking me for not having insurance, I would have NEVER driven the car had I known that I had no insurance. I have never even had a ticket in my life! I am a straight and narrow type guy. People hate uninsured drivers...but so do I! This was a huge misunderstanding that has me tossing and turning at night. I hope that I am worried for no reason, but we will see.

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by FocusGroupGuy

I got a ticket that I will have to pay so don't worry, I have been punished. But before EVERYONE starts attacking me for not having insurance, I would have NEVER driven the car had I known that I had no insurance. I have never even had a ticket in my life! I am a straight and narrow type guy. People hate uninsured drivers...but so do I! This was a huge misunderstanding that has me tossing and turning at night. I hope that I am worried for no reason, but we will see.

Just a ticket?? You should have to appear in court and if found guilty you'll have to get a SR-22

[ParkerP]

Did you get any paper work regarding this commuter insurance? If not, you sound screwed to me.

[Venom]

Carrying markers gives you a harsher sentence then driving without insurance in Chicago.
So stupid.