If you were involved in a traffic accident in Chicago, you’ll need to know how to find out if someone has car insurance. Illinois drivers are legally required to carry liability auto insurance that meets the minimum state requirements. This is to make sure injured drivers have a means of recovering their losses from the motorist who caused the crash.
At Thomas Law Offices, we provide trusted representation to Chicago-area motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists who were injured by negligence on the roadways of our city. If you’re not sure how to get the at-fault party’s insurance information after a vehicle collision in Chicago or other parts of Illinois, we can help you. Part of our jobs as car accident attorneys involves tracking down the information our clients need to file strong claims.
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Ways To Find Out if the Other Driver Has Auto Insurance Coverage in Illinois
Here are a few of the best ways to find out if someone in the Chicago metropolitan area has car insurance.
Get the Information at the Crash Scene
The easiest way to find out if someone has car insurance is to ask them at the scene of the crash. Illinois law requires motorists involved in a vehicle collision to stop and exchange information with the other driver. Leaving the scene of an accident without doing this is considered a hit and run.
When you speak with the other motorist, ask for their:
- Name and contact information
- Address
- Driver’s license information
- Car license plate number
- Auto insurance company they’re insured with
- Insurance policy number
Don’t let the driver get away without giving you their insurance information. They may even write down their phone number and say something like, “Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out without involving the insurance companies.”
Stay firm and protect your legal rights by insisting on getting the info they’re legally obligated to give you. Even if you’re not sure who’s responsible for the crash, get all the information you can so you won’t be taken advantage of. Your auto accident attorney will use this information later when they help you file a claim with your own or the other driver’s insurance company.
Get Information From the Police
When you’re involved in an accident, it’s usually the best idea to call police to the scene right away. Police officers can serve a number of important roles by completing an accident report, issuing any necessary traffic citations, ensuring injured parties receive emergency medical attention, preventing hit and run drivers from fleeing the scene, and overseeing the exchange of information between involved drivers.
The accident report written by the law enforcement officer at the crash site is a good place to get information about the other driver’s insurance coverage. You can also directly contact the police department that handled your crash to find out if the motorist had car insurance.
If your accident occurred in Chicago, the responding officer was likely a member of the Chicago Police Department. You can get a CPD crash report online or in person at the address below during business hours:
Chicago Police Department Records Customer Service Section
3510 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
If your accident occurred on a highway in the Chicago metro area, an Illinois state trooper may have responded. In this case, you can request a copy of the crash report online through the Illinois State Police website.
Ask Your Attorney for Help
After a motor vehicle crash, it’s understandable if the thought of chasing down the other driver’s insurance carrier is overwhelming. It’s very possible that you’re in pain, attending doctor’s appointments, focusing on your recovery, and trying to figure out a lot of other details to set your life right again.
That’s why we at Thomas Law Offices commit to taking over all tasks related to a car accident case on behalf of our clients. We don’t want you to waste your time calling around for information when you should be resting and healing. We know how to find out if someone has car insurance, and we’re skilled negotiators who can capably handle all insurance company communications for you.
It’s especially important to get your lawyer involved if you were hurt in a hit-and-run, if the other driver was uninsured or underinsured, if police were not called to the crash scene, or if the other driver gave you false information about their insurance coverage.
What Are the Auto Insurance Requirements in Illinois?
The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/) requires all vehicle owners in the state to meet minimum liability insurance coverage requirements.
Liability auto insurance pays for bodily injury or property damage that the policyholder causes to someone else through their own negligence. So, for example, if you hit another driver’s car, your liability coverage will kick in to cover the other party’s bills for any necessary car repairs or medical care.
These liability insurance laws are commonly referred to as the 25/50/20 rule:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability insurance per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability insurance per accident
- $20,000 property damage liability insurance
What’s the Penalty for Driving Without Car Insurance in Chicago?
If someone is caught driving without insurance in Chicago, they will face the penalties laid out in Illinois state law.
Penalties can include:
- $500 to $1000 in fines
- Court costs
- Suspended driver’s license
- Suspended vehicle registration
Are There a Lot of Uninsured Drivers in Illinois?
Illinois ranks somewhere in the middle when it comes to its uninsured driver rate. In 2019, Insurance Information Institute (III) data showed that 11.8% of Illinois drivers were uninsured, ranking our state 24th on the list of states with the most uninsured drivers.
By comparison, Mississippi was the state with the most uninsured motorists, with 29.4% of its vehicle owners failing to meet state minimum auto insurance requirements. New Jersey had the lowest rate, with just 3.1% of motor vehicle owners uninsured.
What’s the Next Step After Finding Out if Someone Has Car Insurance?
Were you injured by another driver’s careless or reckless actions? Do you need to file a claim with their insurance company for compensation for medical bills, vehicle repair bills, lost wages, and other damages? Are you not sure where to start?
The next step is to contact Thomas Law Offices. We’ll set you up with a skilled legal advocate who can handle all your legal matters with precision and care.
All you need to do is call our Chicago office or fill out the simple, one-step contact form here on our website.
We will schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at a date that works best for you. You’ll be speaking with a real attorney who can answer all your questions about how to find out if someone has car insurance and how to file for financial recovery.
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