Driving on an expired license may affect your car accident case. Unfortunately, you may face fines and penalties for driving with an expired license. If you were injured in the crash and the accident was not your fault, however, you may still pursue compensation for your injuries and other damages.
If you file an insurance claim, the car insurance company may attempt to use your expired license as a reason to deny your claim. So, before you take any action, talk to a car accident lawyer at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers. We can investigate your claim, help you evaluate your legal rights, and help you recover the money that you deserve for your injuries.
Call us now at (888) 612-7001 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Will Happen at the Accident Scene if I Have an Expired License?
It depends on the officer who responds to the scene of your car wreck. As he is drawing up the accident report, the police officer will ask to see your driver’s license. If your driver’s license expired a few days ago, the officer may give you a written warning and advise you to renew your license. On the other hand, the officer may choose to give you a ticket for driving with an expired license. In general, you are more likely to receive a ticket if your license expired a long time ago. Depending on the circumstances of the accident and how long your license has been expired, the officer may even choose to arrest you.
Why Would I Get Arrested?
You cannot lawfully drive a vehicle in the State of South Carolina without a valid driver’s license. If you drive with an expired license, you face the same possible penalties as someone who drives but never obtained a driver’s license. If the police find that you have violated state law, that violation can be cause for an arrest.
What if the Other Driver Caused the Accident?
So long as you were not the primary cause of your car accident, you can file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company to recover money for the injuries or damages that you sustained in the accident. This is generally true even if you were driving with an expired license.
A car accident lawyer at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can help you by investigating the accident and collecting evidence to establish who was at fault for your car accident.
Do not be surprised if the other driver’s insurance company wants to minimize or reject your claim because of your expired license. We will fight to protect your rights and will work hard to pursue the money that you deserve for your damages and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover?
The damages you can recover depends on the losses you suffered in your car wreck. Every case is different, however, injured car accident victims can generally recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain
- Suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our car accident lawyers will review your case and can help you understand the damages that you can pursue in your auto insurance claim.
What if the Other Driver Disputes Fault for the Wreck?
The other driver’s insurance company will investigate the accident before deciding whether to pay your claim. If you were partially at fault for the accident, the other driver’s insurer may use a South Carolina law that reduces the amount of your total compensation based on your percentage of fault. This concept is called “Comparative Negligence.”
For instance, if your damages warranted a $50,000.00 recovery but you were found to be 20 percent at fault for causing your car accident, your recovery would be reduced by 20 percent, or $10,000.00. In this case, you would only receive a $40,000.00 recovery.
This concept is only true up to a point however, as the person who was the primary cause of an accident is not eligible to recover any recovery for their injuries. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible for your collision, the law prevents you from collecting any money from the other driver.
Before you’re found partially liable, our car accident lawyer will work to gather evidence regarding your accident and will use it to counter any arguments the other driver may make against you. Even if you are only eligible to receive a partial recovery, our goal is to help you collect the most amount of money that you can receive for your injuries.
Will My Auto Insurer Cancel My Policy?
It depends on your auto insurance policy. Some insurance companies do not cancel policies just because of an expired license. As we mentioned before, if your license expired just days ago and you have already paid your insurance premium, you may still have coverage.
The terms of your car insurance policy may allow your insurance company to cancel your policy if you are caught driving with an expired, suspended, or revoked license. Our car accident lawyers can help you understand your policy to determine exactly where your insurance stands on policyholders with expired licenses.
Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Today
An expired license may present challenges and legal hassles, making your case more difficult to handle alone. The attorneys from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers stand ready to help you understand your legal options and here to help you through this complicated process.
Call us now at (888) 612-7001 for a free consultation and case review.