Bill Takes Aim at Uninsured Drivers in Virginia

Many people assume all drivers must have auto insurance before they get behind the wheel of a vehicle in Virginia. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers often help people who have been injured in car crashes by drivers who carry no insurance. In Virginia, drivers can get around the requirement to take out car insurance by paying a $500 fee to the state. It’s a loophole that a legislator is seeking to close. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers partner Griffin O’Hanlon supported the change during a recent news interview.

The SB951 Bill

SB951, a bill filed in the General Assembly, would remove the option for drivers to circumvent the requirement to take out insurance by paying the Virginia Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee. According to a 2018 study, as many as 10 percent of Virginia’s drivers are uninsured.

That causes a problem when they injure or kill other motorists. If an uninsured driver, hits and hurts you, you cannot claim against the at-fault driver’s policy. You have to make a claim under the Uninsured Motorist (UM) part of your own insurance policy.

Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Mecklenburg), the legislator who filed the bill, sees no reason for the Virginia Uninsured Motor Vehicle Fee that the General Assembly created years ago. “There is no value for anyone in allowing this,” he told WTKR.

Ruff’s bill is heading to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk after passing through the Senate and the House of Delegates.

Delays in Insurance for Crashes with Uninsured Drivers

Griff O’Hanlon told WTKR the provision that allows uninsured drivers on the roads of Virginia creates frustration after car accidents.

While many people have insurance that’s supposed to cover them if they’re hit by an uninsured driver, victims face delays during a lengthy back and forth with insurance companies over who will pay, according to O’Hanlon.

“It creates an extensive delay for them where they are left getting the short end of the stick when they’ve done nothing wrong,” said O’Hanlon, who believes that the bill is a step in the right direction.

The news channel also spoke to Jonathan Morris, a driver who was hit by an uninsured, red light runner in Portsmouth. Although nobody ended up hurt in the accident, the lack of insurance made the property damage claim more complicated.

We are happy to see this anachronism finally addressed. New Hampshire and Virginia are the only two states in the USA that do not require all drivers to take out auto insurance. If Youngkin signs the bill into law, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will require all drivers to hold insurance from July 1, 2024. It would not be a day too soon.

Call Our Firm to Learn More

If you or a family member is hit by a driver who lacks insurance, don’t despair. You can still make a claim. However, it makes sense to talk to a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer to streamline the process. At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, our attorneys help dozens of victims of car accidents every week. Please see our case results and call us.