Q: Are auto insurance companies legally responsible to report the cancellation of insurance to the DMV?
We didn’t realize our auto insurance policy was cancelled. I now got into an accident where I will most likely be at fault because I was crossing traffic. We just renewed our registration in February and they’re saying our policy was cancelled over a year ago. Do we have any legal right to fight with insurance company since they didn’t report the cancellation. If they had, we would’ve received notice from DMV, not been able to renew registration, and our car loan lender would’ve also taken out a policy on vehicle during lapse.
A:
Not as you've phrased it; they may be supposed to send a notice to DMV but that doesn't help you. However the insurance company must notify you and your state insurance commissioner will tell you what that method is.
The problem is if you moved and didn't tell the company. Did you stop getting bills? Did you think you had free insurance? But see what method they say they used to notify you.
Your big problem now is that if you don't have insurance and don't make the other person whole your license can be suspended.
If you're not totally sure you were at fault, get the police report, and contact a member of the Ct Assnfor Justice--they give free consults.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
