CarInsurance.com Compare Insurance Companies
> ZIP code:  Quote & Compare
CarInsurance.com Navigation
  About Car Insurance About Us
  Car Insurance Site Map Site Map

Get Free Quotes Now

Zip Code:
Save With CarInsurance.com!
Car Insurance Learning Center  Learning Center  Auto Insurance Questions & Answers   Questions & Answers  Professional Answers   Professional Answer
Use the form below to email this article to a recipient that may find this article helpful or click on the question to find many more related answers to your questions.

QuestionInsurance Question  I live and am licensed to drive in the state of Ohio. I was in an accident in the state of West Virginia in which I rear-ended someone else. I had no insurance on my vehicle. What are the penalties I will face?

AnswerAuto Insurance Answer

West Virginia has several penalties in place for motorists who fail to show proof of insurance, regardless of accidents being involved. Penalties can include suspension of your vehicle registration and drivers license as well as criminal penalties that could result from a conviction in magistrate court.

WV criminal penalties for driving without insurance can include fines of between $250 and $5000 and jail time of between 15 days and 1 year or both.

These penalties as well as others will likely apply to you if you were cited at the scene of the accident for driving without insurance. Since you at fault in the accident, the other party would be allowed to file a judgment through civil court against you. This judgment and accident report could then be sent to the WV Division of Motor Vehicles for a driver's license suspension to last until the judgment was paid in full or a payment installment plan is agreed upon.

West Virginia Code Chapter 17D deals with the WV Motor Vehicle Responsibility Laws. Section 17D-2A-7 states under subsection gives information on civil penalties while section 17D-2A-9 of the WV Code gives the criminal penalty for driving without insurance if you want to read through these WV laws.

In Ohio, it is illegal to drive a car without insurance or any form of Financial Responsibility (FR) on the vehicle that is accepted by the state. It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the owner's car with FR proof.

Section 4509.101 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits an individual from operating a motor vehicle in Ohio without maintaining proof of FR continuously throughout the registration period, so you may also receive penalties from OH since your car is registered in this state and you have not maintained auto insurance as OH laws require.

If you are caught driving without financial responsibility (insurance), the penalties can include: suspension of driver's license for a minimum of 90 days and up to 2 years, impoundment of your license plates and/or automobile plus fines and court costs.

In Ohio after being found without insurance you are normally required to file with the OH BMV a SR-22 or bond to continuously maintain proof of financial responsibility for a minimum of 3 years up to 5 years.

If you are involved in a crash without insurance or other FR coverage, the state of Ohio can apply additional penalties. You may have a security suspension of your license for 2 years or more and a judgment suspension for an indefinite period, until damages are paid. You should contact the OH BMV to find out if these penalties will be placed on you since the accident took place out of state.

If you were cited in WV for being an uninsured motorist then contact the court listed on the ticket to see about the specific penalties you will face and to see if by negotiating with the other party and settling with them for the costs of their damages if you can help your case.

Your Name:
Your Email:
Send To This Email:
Your Comments:
 
©2009 CarInsurance.com, Inc. - Online Insurance Marketplace™
safe and secure auto insurance   better business bureau car insurance   Tested, Safe, and Secure Car Insurance