How To Find Out if Someone Has Car Insurance in Ocala, FL

Bill Allen | November 24, 2023 | Car Accidents

How To Find Out if Someone Has Car Insurance in Ocala, FL

Even though Florida is a no-fault state for car insurance, that does not necessarily mean you are barred from filing a car accident claim against the at-fault driver. Florida no-fault insurance laws have exceptions that allow accident victims to sue the other driver for damages. Therefore, you might need to find out if someone has car insurance in Ocala, FL, if you have serious injuries after a car accident.

PIP Coverage vs. Liability Insurance for Florida Car Accidents

Florida drivers are required to have minimum no-fault insurance coverage. They are required to have at least $10,000 in coverage for:

  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage
  • Property damage Liability (PDL) coverage

PIP insurance coverage pays benefits to an insured party regardless of fault for the accident. Therefore, if you are injured in a car accident, you file a claim with your PIP carrier, even if the other driver caused the crash. 

PIP insurance reimburses you for up to 60% of your lost wages and 80% of your medical bills for an emergency medical condition if you receive medical care within 14 days of the accident date. If you do not sustain an emergency medical condition, the coverage is limited to $2,500, but you must still see a doctor within 14 days after the accident.

PDL insurance policies cover the property damage caused by an accident. Property damage liability insurance covers the damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property. It does not cover the damage to your vehicle in a car accident.

Liability insurance is different from no-fault insurance coverage. You must prove that another driver caused your accident to recover damages from their liability insurance company. 

However, if you prove fault for the crash, you could receive compensation for the total of your economic damages, including all loss of income, medical expenses, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, you can receive compensation for pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages, which are not covered by no-fault insurance.

Florida does not require drivers to purchase liability insurance policies. However, many drivers choose to buy liability insurance coverage to protect them in case they cause a car accident. Therefore, it is important to find out if someone has car insurance in Ocala if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold to file a car accident lawsuit. 

How To Find Out if a Driver Has Car Insurance in Florida

Were you involved in a car accident in Ocala? If so, there are several ways you can find out if the other driver has liability insurance coverage.

Ask the Other Driver To Exchange Insurance Information 

You can ask at the accident scene. In many cases, the drivers at an accident scene will exchange insurance information before the police officers arrive. Offer to exchange insurance information to find out if the other driver has liability insurance coverage.

Information that is helpful to exchange at the accident scene includes:

  • The name and contact information for the driver and the owner of the car, if the owner is a different person
  • The name of the insurance company and policy number 

This is likely the easiest and best way to find out if the other driver involved in your crash has insurance, but there are other methods as well. 

Ask the Police Officer for Insurance Information 

The police officers investigating the car accident should instruct the drivers to exchange insurance information. In some cases, the police officers gather the insurance information from each driver to minimize conflict at the accident scene. 

You can also get insurance information from the traffic crash report. Accident victims can obtain a copy of their crash report from the FLHSMV online crash portal.

Ask the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles 

Privacy laws typically protect a motorist’s and owner’s information at the DMV. However, if you are involved in an accident with a person, you can obtain insurance information from the DMV. You can complete a form online to request the other party’s insurance information.  

Hire an Ocala Car Accident Lawyer 

If you hire an Ocala car accident attorney to handle your personal injury case, you won’t need to worry about obtaining insurance information or a traffic report. Your attorney handles these matters for you. Your lawyer also deals with the insurance company, including negotiating a settlement for your car accident claim.

Ocala personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. Therefore, you can get information about a car accident claim to decide the best way to protect your right to fair compensation for damages.

Contact Our Ocala Car Accident Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Ocala car accident lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have three convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Downtown Gainesville
621 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(866) 928-6292

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652