While the state of South Carolina requires all drivers on the road to have a valid license, there are many people who fail to adhere to this law and drive even after their license has been suspended or revoked. According to the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety, unlicensed drivers are involved in about one out of every five fatal car accidents, and half of these drivers were found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by an unlicensed driver, you deserve to be compensated and the driver deserves to be held responsible for negligence. At Bostic Law Group, P.A., our unlicensed motorist accident attorneys in Charleston have more than 25 years of experience handling auto accident claims and know what we need to collect in order to prove negligence. Whether the driver who caused your accident was drunk or distracted, we can work to ensure they don’t harm others the way they’ve harmed you.
Contact our team online or by phone at (843) 350-9646 to schedule your free consultation today. We can offer you options and compassionate support during this painful time.
TYPES OF UNLICENSED DRIVERS
While some may assume that unlicensed drivers who cause accidents had their licenses revoked because of past negligent behavior, there are in reality numerous reasons why a driver may not have a license.
Common reasons why drivers lack valid licenses include:
- The driver is a teenager and hasn’t yet taken their driving test
- The driver is an immigrant without a U.S. license
- The driver is someone who had their license suspended for DUI or too many points
- The driver is older and has had their license taken away for medical reasons
Whatever the reason for their lack of license, unlicensed drivers pose a danger to themselves and others on the road. Teens with a lack of experience, for example, are more likely to not be aware of traffic laws or not have practiced changing lanes and can cause accidents. And if a driver has had their license revoked, chances are there is a good reason for that. You can have your license suspended if you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, operating an uninsured vehicle, failing to pay a traffic ticket, and failing to file an SR-22 certificate.
CAN YOU GET CAR INSURANCE WITHOUT A LICENSE?
Yes, it’s possible to obtain car insurance without a license. However, it’s common for unlicensed drivers to have a minimum liability insurance policy, meaning that if you’ve been injured by a negligent driver and wish to file a claim for damages, their policy may be insufficient to cover all your costs.
If this is the case, you may be eligible to file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy. Our attorneys can assess your existing policy to determine if this is an option for you. Once the at-fault driver exhausts their own policy, your policy will make up the difference. If the at-fault driver isn’t insured at all, however, you can file an uninsured motorist claim.
HOW WE CAN HELP
After your accident, it’s crucial that you hire a car accident attorney as soon as possible to determine what kind of claim you’re able to file against the unlicensed driver. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling a variety of auto accident cases and can make sure you get the full amount of financial compensation needed.
Through our advocacy, we can recover damages including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Unlicensed drivers are dangerous and can cause serious injuries and deaths – we can work to make sure they don’t put other lives in danger again.
Call our unlicensed motorist attorneys in Charleston for unwavering support at (843) 350-9646. We can help you heal from injuries both minor and severe.
