What is my next step? Information not matching FR-10 form given by officer
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What is my next step? Information not matching FR-10 form given by officer
I was involved in an accident a few days ago. When I noticed the insurance company on the FR-10 form for the other party of the accident, I found out that the owner of that vehicle hasn’t had insurance with that company since last year. The VIN of the other party’s vehicle is hard to read on the FR-10 so I spoke with someone from the City Hall. She responded by telling me that when she ran the vin number for the car the same insurance company information on the FR-10 form is wat came up in their system. I emailed someone from the DMV and provided her with the vin number on the FR-10 form. She responded letting me know that if that is the VIN of the car the other party was driving then the owner listed on the FR-10 isn’t really the owner of the vehicle and that car hasn’t been registered. When I did a little research on the vehicle’s VIN myself the owner of that vehicle isn’t the same owner wrote on the FR-10 and the car’s year, model and make were different then what was wrote on the FR-10 form as well. The other party’s vehicle did have a dealer’s license plate on the back and she was at fault for the accident. I’m quite sure if the other party’s vehicle wasn’t registered or didn’t have insurance then the officer wouldn’t have let her continue to drive the car on the road. I do go on Monday back to City Hall to get a better copy of the FR-10 form. At this point I am beyond confused, frustrated and irritated. What would be my next step?
Asked on August 10, 2019 under Accident Law, South Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
We presume that you are seeking compensation. In that case, sue the person driving and the person who has been identified as the owner, assuming that you believe that the driver was at fault in causing the accident (an at-fault driver, and/or the person letting him/her drive the car) is liable for all damage done by him/her). Let those persons attempt to show that someone else is liable, if they can. You will not get compensation from any insurance company (other than your own, if you have the proper [e.g. collission] insurance) until you can identify the proper/legal owner and if that owner in fact had insurance; therefore, based on what you write, a lawsuit appears to be your only route to compensation. In the suit, there are tools ("discovery") to get more information, and, as stated, the persons you sue may provide the identity of the responsible parties (if known to them) in order to avoid their own liability.
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