When you have lots of responsibilities on your plate, it is easy to put off renewing your driver’s license. It is only when you get into an accident that the task you have put off for so long jumps up on your priority list.
The good news is that you are not going to get in trouble for driving on an expired license if you are the victim of a car accident. That being said, you will still want to renew your license as soon as possible. If you don’t , you might have a harder time fighting for compensation after your accident.
Can You Face Legal Trouble for an Expired License?
Law enforcement has your best interests in mind when they arrive at the scene of an accident. These officers, alongside any medical professionals in the area, want to make sure that you are as safe as possible. With that in mind, non-liable drivers in an accident with expired licenses will not be charged for driving without the appropriate documentation.
Don’t let your fears about your expired license keep you from contacting law enforcement after an accident. You risk consequences for failing to report an accident, even if you are the victim of said accident. Instead, you should assess the scene, make sure that you and your loved ones are safe, and cooperate with the representatives who come to help. You can explore additional legal options once you have made your way back home.
Can an Expired Driver’s License Limit Post-accident Compensation?
After an accident, you have the option to file both an insurance claim and a civil claim against the party you believe to be liable for your losses. As a result of these claims, you could obtain compensation to contend with accident-related property damage and medical bills.
An insurance provider may try to redirect accusations of fault if your license was expired at the time of your accident. In no-fault states or states with comparative fault, you must be the party with the lesser percentage of fault at the time of your accident if you want to fight for compensation. Insurance providers who try to reframe the facts regarding your accident can attempt to deny you that compensation.
With that in mind, be sure to renew your license as soon as you can after an accident takes place. You can also work with a car accident attorney to ensure that all of your paperwork is in order.
Contact a Feller & Wendt Attorney for Help with the Aftermath of a Car Accident
While driving on an expired license at the time of an accident will not get you in trouble, you will still want to renew your license as soon as you can after your accident. Insurance agencies may try to deny your claim or place fault on you if you do not have your license renewed by the time your case goes to court.
For more information about your legal options after a car accident, whether you have an expired license or not, you should contact Feller & Wendt. Our team members across Utah, Arizona, and Idaho can sit down with you for a free, post-accident consultation. Reach out to Feller & Wendt by calling (801) 499-5060 or by filling out our online contact form.
