Car accidents are stressful enough without discovering that the other driver doesn’t even have insurance. However, car accidents involving uninsured drivers happen more often than many people realize, leaving victims wondering how to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

If you’ve been injured in a car crash caused by an uninsured driver in Spokane, you may still have options. With the right representation from a Spokane uninsured car accident lawyer and understanding of Washington’s insurance system, Craig Swapp & Associates can help you pursue compensation through your own policy, or in some cases, directly from the uninsured motorist.

Washington’s Mandatory Insurance for Drivers

In Washington State, all drivers must carry a minimum amount of liability insurance to legally operate a vehicle. This coverage is designed to protect other drivers, passengers, and property owners when the insured person causes an accident.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

As of current law, the minimum required liability coverage for car insurance in Washington State includes:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death to 1 person in an accident
  • $50,000 for total bodily injury or death to any 2  people in an accident
  • $10,000 for property damage per accident

These minimum limits are often written as 25/50/10.

However, liability coverage only protects others, not the policyholder. That’s why Washington also requires insurers to offer Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage and Personal Injury Protection (PIP). While drivers can reject these coverages in writing, carrying them is highly recommended.

Learn more about these requirements and optional coverages by visiting our full guide to car insurance in Washington.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Spokane

Driving without valid insurance in Spokane is not just risky, it’s illegal. Washington law treats this as a traffic infraction, and violators face serious consequences.

Penalties for uninsured drivers in Spokane include:

  • Traffic citation and fines: A driver caught operating a vehicle without insurance faces a $550 fine or more.
  • License suspension: If the uninsured driver is involved in an accident, their license may be suspended by the Washington Department of Licensing.
  • Personal financial liability: Uninsured drivers are personally responsible for any damages or injuries they cause in an accident.

In addition to these penalties, a driver found at fault for an accident without insurance may face lawsuits, wage garnishments, and other legal collection actions if they don’t voluntarily pay damages.

Compensation Against an Uninsured Driver in Spokane

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, you still have options for compensation. 

Here’s what you need to know about pursuing damages after car accidents involving uninsured drivers in Spokane.

Use Your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If you purchased UM/UIM coverage, it will step in to cover your losses when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance (or doesn’t have enough). This coverage can help pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, ongoing treatment or rehabilitation, etc. UM/UIM is optional in Washington but must be offered by insurers. Unless you declined it in writing, you may already have it on your policy.

File a PIP Claim (Personal Injury Protection)

PIP coverage can help pay for your medical bills, wage loss, and some other expenses, regardless of who caused the crash. Like UM/UIM, PIP must be offered, and it’s optional to reject. Many Spokane drivers carry it.

Rely on Collision Coverage for Vehicle Damage

If your car is damaged and the other driver is uninsured, collision coverage on your policy can cover repairs. You’ll likely have to pay a deductible, but it allows you to recover without relying on the at-fault driver’s insurance (which doesn’t exist).

File a Lawsuit Against the Uninsured Driver

In Washington, victims of accidents can pursue civil lawsuits directly against the at-fault party even if that person doesn’t have insurance. However, this route has pros and cons.

  • Pro: Allows you to seek full compensation for your damages.
  • Pro: The court may issue a judgment that can be enforced through wage garnishment or liens.
  • Con: Many uninsured drivers don’t have significant assets or income, making it difficult to collect on a judgment.
  • Con: You may need to invest time and legal resources without a guaranteed recovery.

Your attorney can investigate whether the at-fault driver has the financial means to pay, and if so, take steps to pursue compensation through litigation or settlement.

Washington’s Comparative Fault Rule Still Applies

Even in cases involving uninsured drivers, Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule applies. This means your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you may recover $80,000.

An experienced attorney can help defend your rights and minimize any claims that you contributed to the accident.

What to Do After a Car Accident with an Uninsured Driver

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver in Spokane, follow these steps:

  • Call the police: Make sure an accident report is filed.
  • Exchange information: Get their name, plate number, and driver’s license info, even if they don’t have insurance.
  • Document the scene: Take pictures and gather witness names.
  • Notify your insurer: Open a UM/UIM or PIP claim right away.
  • Talk to a car accident lawyer: Legal advice can make a major difference, especially when dealing with an uninsured motorist.

If you’re not sure how to start, our accident lawyers in Spokane can walk you through every step.

Our Lawyers Can Help Deal with Uninsured Driving Accidents

Spokane accidents with uninsured drivers are frustrating, but they aren’t hopeless. Whether through your own policy, legal action, or both, you still have the right to pursue compensation. At Craig Swapp & Associates, we understand how confusing and overwhelming these cases can be, especially when the other driver failed to meet basic legal requirements.

Our firm has helped many driving accident victims recover damages even in difficult uninsured motorist cases. We know the local laws, we deal with insurance companies every day, and we’re not afraid to go to court if necessary. 

Call us today at 509-567-2464 or send us a message about your case by answering our online form here for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win your case.

Written By: Ryan Swapp     Legal Review By: Craig Swapp