How to Get Someone’s Car Insurance Information
Getting the other driver’s contact and insurance information is one of the most important things to do after an accident. Unfortunately, the immediate aftermath of an automobile collision can be chaotic. The other driver may also refuse to provide their insurance information, or they may not have insurance at all.
Knowing what to do after an accident to get car insurance information from the other driver can help you file a claim. You can contact our Fox Cities car crash attorneys for assistance filing a claim with insurance or to file a lawsuit against the other driver if they were negligent.
What Information Do You Need from the Other Driver?
To help with filing a claim, insurance companies recommend you gather the following information at the site of the accident:
- The driver’s name, address, and phone number
- The driver’s insurance information, such as the insurance company’s name, phone number, policy number, and expiration date
- A description of the driver’s vehicle, including its make, model, color, and license plate number
Take pictures of the accident scene before you leave, including all vehicles involved in the crash and the driver’s insurance card. Collect all the contact information from all drivers involved in the collision if there were multiple vehicles.
What to Do After an Accident to Get Car Insurance Information
Once you know what information you need, you can follow these steps to get the other driver’s insurance information.
Ask them for it while at the scene of the accident:
A driver must give their information after an accident that results in injury or death. A driver must give their name, driver license number, and registration number of the car they’re driving to anyone injured in an accident and to the driver and passengers of the other vehicle. Although it is not a legal requirement, most drivers provide proof of insurance upon request.
Consult the police report:
Under Wisconsin laws, all drivers must report an accident under these circumstances:
- $1,000 or more worth of property damage
- $200 or more in damage to government property
- Any injuries or deaths
- A vehicle needs towing
The report must contain details about the cause of an accident, the conditions around the accident, and the people and vehicles involved. Law enforcement agencies investigating the accident must provide the police department with a written report within 10 days. If you didn’t get the driver’s insurance information at the time of the incident, you can find it in the police report.
File a request with the Department of Motor Vehicles:
If you did not get the insurance information from the driver, the DMV may provide you with the other driver’s insurance information. You will have to fill out a Vehicle/Driver Record Information Request form, including details of the accident and why you need the information, such as an accident involving a hit-and-run driver.
If you have the driver’s license plate number, you can bring it to the DMV to find out the name of their insurance company. However, the DMV can deny your request if you provide false information, and you may face fines.
Call their insurance company:
You may be able to get the remaining details about a driver’s insurance policy directly from the insurer if you only have the company’s name but cannot reach the driver. Be prepared with a police report, photos of the accident, and other evidence to prove you have a legitimate reason for requesting the details of the policy.
What if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?
When registering a vehicle in Wisconsin, drivers do not need to show proof of insurance. However, they must have proof of insurance in the vehicle while driving. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, the police can order them to pay a fine of up to $500.
You can also file a case against the uninsured driver under Wisconsin’s Safety Responsibility Law. A driver who is uninsured and found at fault for a car accident has their license and that of the vehicle’s registered owner suspended.
Even if the driver is uninsured, it is still a good idea to record their contact information at the accident scene, including their driver license number. These details are helpful for filing a claim; they provide proof for your insurance company that the other driver wasn’t covered by their own policy at the time of the incident.
Wisconsin requires uninsured motorist insurance coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This covers bodily injuries sustained by you, your family members, and passengers in your car because of an uninsured driver.
Get Legal Help from a Fox Cities Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car accident, you can seek compensation from the at-fault driver with the help of a car accident lawyer. At Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers, we can help you navigate the insurance claims process after your accident. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation to determine your next steps.