Obtaining insurance information for IL driver

[stout]

So, I got off the plane in Milwaukee after our girls' weekend at WDW, was driving to drop off my sister in Milwaukee and was hit by a car pulling out of a parking space. I find out today that he gave expired insurance info for the police report. His vehicle was registered to his name in IL and was just renewed in January 2011. I understand that IL has a mandatory insurance law. Is there any easy way of obtaining his current insurance information (if he has it)? Will the IL DMV assist me with this? I have insurance and have started the claim process, but I am angry about paying the $500 deductible on my insurance when he was clearly at fault (and admitted same on the handwritten statement he offered for the police report).

 

[amybethchristiansen]

I am really sorry to hear that. But, no the DMV will provide no assistance to you because, while IL has a mandatory insurance law, it is really not enforced by the DMV. Here in IL, you don't report your insurance to anyone (unless you have a prior no insurance ticket). So, just because the registration was recently renewed does not mean that the driver reported his insurance to the DMV. Really, the best thing you can do now is report it to your insurance. They will attempt to collect from the other driver. If they are able, then you will get your $500 back. If not, you are out of luck.

 

[Leajess99]

I am really sorry to hear that. But, no the DMV will provide no assistance to you because, while IL has a mandatory insurance law, it is really not enforced by the DMV. Here in IL, you don't report your insurance to anyone (unless you have a prior no insurance ticket). So, just because the registration was recently renewed does not mean that the driver reported his insurance to the DMV. Really, the best thing you can do now is report it to your insurance. They will attempt to collect from the other driver. If they are able, then you will get your $500 back. If not, you are out of luck.

We have mandatory insurance here as well and we don't have to show anything as the insurance companies are who forwards the information. Now if it is not in the computer than you do have to show proof.

OP, sorry for the idiot's lack of care but I would still contact the IL DMV. It may not help but then again you may get lucky and get the information. I'd also send him a certified letter demanding payment but your insurance company will contact him by letter as well. At least mine did when I got hit by a drunk driver who had no license, no insurance, stolen playes, etc. I was able to get my insurance to waive the deductible thankfully. I do not think it is fair for the victim to have to pay because some lowlife doesn't want to abide by the law. In my case, it took 18 months for the scumbag to finally go to court as he kept skipping out on his bail and when he was caught the moron we have for a judge would turn around and put him back on bond. That was until the last time when I located him in another jail in another county and told the Sheriff and court I was tired of doing their job for them. Of course the scumbag got 90 for his probation violation and not even a week for the dui incident. He hasn't learned either as he has been in court numerous times and the other county charged him with his 1st DUI just a couple of months ago even though I contacted them as soon as I saw his name on the court docket for DUI 1st.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Contact your insurance company. Let them process everything.

Yes, you will have to pay your collision decuctible up front. However, they will track down the driver and, if he has insurance, collect the full amount of the repair from the insurance company. When they collect the full amount they will then refund your deductible. If he is not insured they will go after him personally, again, when they finally collect the full amount they will reimburse you.

I had this happen once to me. Since there is a financial responsibility law, the person made an agreement with my insurance company and took almost two years to pay everything off, but I then got my deductible back. And since the state has a financial responsibility law if the person does not pay they can get their license suspended or revoked.