Anytime a peace officer pulls you over for traffic violations in California, he or she has the power to ask you to present three things: your driver’s license, CA vehicle registration, and evidence of auto insurance.
As in most states, you must be in possession of a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. If you decide to drive in California without a license, you could find yourself facing charges should you be stopped by a law enforcement officer. Driving without a license can be prosecuted as either a non-criminal offense or a misdemeanor, depending on the prosecutor and your driving history. Many times, the charges can be dismissed by simply obtaining a valid driver’s license.
Driving without a license is risky for a number of reasons, but if you’re involved in a car accident while driving without a license, your license status will not affect your accident case. You should consult with JV LAW GROUP for advice specific to your situation. Generally speaking, however, the most important thing in an accident case is whether you have liability insurance. State law requires you to have liability insurance and while not having a license will not negatively affect your settlement, failing to maintain current liability insurance will indeed change the outcome of your case.
In car accident cases, California is a “fault” state, which means one would pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit against those who are legally at fault for the accident. Once you are involved in an accident, you can file a claim with your insurance, against the other driver’s insurance, or against the other driver directly. Thus, even if you were driving without a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident, you can still pursue a claim. Furthermore, you can be found at fault for an accident independent of your license status. Driving without a license is illegal but has no bearing on your settlement options or the determination of fault.
If you have recently been in an accident or have questions about California’s fault laws, please feel free to contact JV LAW GROUP at 714-752-3270 for more information.
