Car Accident With No Insurance – How To Avoid A Suspended License

Your Missouri driver’s license will be suspended if you get into an accident while driving a car with no insurance and you fail to pay for the damages.

How To Avoid A Suspension Of Your Driver’s License If You Get Into An Accident And You Don’t Have Car Insurance

If you get into an accident while driving an uninsured vehicle, you will have to make arrangements with the other driver’s insurance company (or negotiate with the driver personally without involving the insurance company) to pay for the damage to their vehicle.

You can pay for the damages in one lump sum, or you can sign an installment agreement to make payments.

If your license is already suspended, usually the suspension will be lifted after you make a few installment payments. You can negotiate the details of the agreement with the insurance company that is providing coverage for the vehicle that you hit.

Click here to see the Missouri Department of Revenue Installment Agreement.

What To Do If You Get Into A Car Accident In Missouri

If you are involved in a car accident in Missouri, you are legally required to do the following:

• Move your car to the side of the road to avoid being hit by oncoming cars
• Call an ambulance if you think anyone has been injured
• Call the police to report the accident
• Turn on your car’s hazard lights, or use flares or a flashlight to warn oncoming traffic
• Exchange information with the other driver, including your name, address, vehicle identification, and car insurance information
• Don’t leave the scene of the accident until a police officer tells you it’s o.k. to leave, or else you could get a ticket for “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident”
• File a Missouri Motor Vehicle Accident Report

The Missouri Department of Revenue website has more detailed information about what to do if you are involved in an accident.

What To Do If You Get Into A Car Accident And You Receive A Traffic Ticket

If you are involved in a car accident, stop and call the police, and don’t leave until the officer gives you permission to go.

Then hire an experienced traffic ticket lawyer to get your car accident ticket reduced to a non-moving violation that won’t affect your driving record.

If you have an experienced traffic law attorney representing you, it is very likely you won’t have to appear in court.

How Many Points Will Be Added To Your Driving Record For A Ticket Involving A Car Accident

Here are the most common traffic tickets issued when an accident is involved, and the number of points added to your driving record for each one:

• Failure to Yield – 2 to 3 points
• Following Too Close – 2 to 3 points
• C&I (Careless & Imprudent) Driving – 2 to 4 points
• Reckless Driving – 2 to 4 points
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident (“Hit & Run”) – 6 to 12 points

FYI – If your case goes before a judge, they can assess even more points than those listed above because an accident was involved. That’s why it’s best to have an attorney negotiate a plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor instead of taking your case directly to the judge.

How To Get A “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” Ticket Reduced To A Less Serious Offense

A ticket for “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” or “Hit & Run” is a serious traffic violation. If you plead guilty to “Leaving the Scene,” 6 to 12 points will be added to your driving record (depending on which court your case is being prosecuted in), and the state can revoke your driver’s license for 1 year.

The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” ticket is 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Before you plead guilty to “Leaving The Scene Of An Accident,” consult an experienced traffic ticket lawyer to discuss your options. Your attorney may be able to get your ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point violation with no jail time or court appearance required.
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For a free consultation about your Missouri traffic ticket, call St. Louis traffic law attorney Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 or email her at [email protected]