What Happens If The At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Car Insurance in Charlotte, NC?

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What Happens If The At-Fault Party Doesn’t Have Car Insurance in Charlotte, NC?

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According to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, there were over 35,000 car accidents in Charlotte in 2019. As the city continues to grow, so do the number of car accidents. In most cases, both drivers will have insurance to pay for the damage of the car crash. However, in other cases, victims face the trouble of dealing with an uninsured or underinsured driver. It is important to know what to do in these situations so that you may recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you.

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our Charlotte car accident lawyers have years of experience helping car accident victims get the compensation they deserve. We will work with the insurance company to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation.

North Carolina Auto Insurance Laws

The North Carolina Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act requires all drivers to have liability insurance provided by an insurance company licensed by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Liability coverage protects drivers and passengers against injuries and property damage caused by negligent drivers.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in North Carolina

Drivers in North Carolina are also legally required to purchase coverage for uninsured motorists, as well as minimum bodily injury and property damage limits. Currently, the minimum liability limit for bodily injury coverage is $30,000 and the minimum limit for property damage coverage is $25,000. An uninsured claim is just what it sounds like.  The at-fault driver does not have insurance.  An undersinsured claim is one where your damages exceed the amount of coverage the at-fault driver has. If you are involved in a car accident and the at-fault party does not have car insurance or does not have enough car insurance, it is best to  file a claim with your own insurance company and let your insurance company subrogate against the responsible party.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in North Carolina

You should always have car insurance, even if you are only driving for a short period of time. It is the law in North Carolina and it can help protect you in the event of an accident. Driving without insurance in North Carolina can result in criminal prosecution, including fines and loss of driving privileges, as well as subject you to the possibility of being sued.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover?

If you have uninsured motorist insurance, it will cover injuries you or other passengers have suffered from the automobile accident up to the amount of coverage on your policy. Many people believe they have “full coverage,” but don’t understand what that really means.  In North Carolina, “full coverage” technically means you are covered to the extent the law requires, which again, is only $30,000 unless you purchase more than the minimum requirement. You may also be able to get compensated for other losses, such as lost wages and pain and suffering, but it will depend on the amount of your damages compared to the amount of your coverage.

What to Do After a Car Accident with an Uninsured/Underinsured Driver in Charlotte

If you are in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, you can follow the same steps as any other motor vehicle accident.

  1. Make sure you are safe and that everyone involved in the accident is okay. Then, call 911 immediately and file a police report.
  2. Get the other driver’s name, address, license plate number, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
  3. Collect evidence at the scene of the accident. This includes taking pictures of the damage to both cars and any possible injuries, getting contact information from all drivers and witnesses, and writing down what happened as soon as possible.
  4. Contact an  attorney who is experienced in handling car accident claims. They will investigate the accident and get you the compensation you deserve. If the other driver is at fault and does not have car insurance, your lawyer will inform you of other options.

Why You Should Contact a Lawyer Before Speaking with the Insurance Company

An insurance company’s goal is to settle with you for the least possible amount. This means you may not get the compensation you deserve. A car accident lawyer will review your case and help you get the money you need to cover medical bills, property damage, and other losses you are entitled to.

Filing a Lawsuit Against the At-Fault Driver in North Carolina

If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, you also have the option to file a lawsuit against that driver. It is important to speak with an attorney who knows the ropes to determine your best course of action and how much money you could realistically recover.

What If I’m Not the Driver?

If you are not driving when the accident occurs, you are generally considered a fault-free passenger.  You would have potential coverage not only from the at-fault party’s insurance, but potentially the insurance for the vehicle you were in, the driver of the vehicle you were in (if different than the owner) as well as your own policy.  . It is important to have an attorney who understands the interplay among these different policies. 

Do You Need an Attorney For an Underinsured/Uninsured Driver Claim?

Yes, an experienced car accident lawyer will be able to help you navigate the legal system, file a claim with your insurance company, and get the compensation you deserve. Even though it is your insurance, the insurance company still has the same goal of paying the least amount possible and do not always treat their insureds fairly.  Contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help.

Contact a Charlotte Car Accident Attorney Today

Unfortunately, auto accidents are on the risen as Charlotte grows. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries.

Our auto accident attorneys have experience with all types of personal injury cases, including car accidents. We are not afraid to take on insurance companies to help you obtain fair compensation. We value the attorney-client relationship and will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

Contact The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor today for your free initial consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you. We will answer your questions and explain all of your legal options.

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
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301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
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Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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