How to Find Out if Someone Has Car Insurance in Albuquerque, NM
July 10, 2023 | Car Accidents
As in most states, drivers on New Mexico roads must procure insurance that covers specific minimum amounts of bodily injury and property damage. After an accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company will typically be required to pay the appropriate damages the victim suffered.
That is why it’s important for drivers to exchange insurance information at the time of an accident. However, it is not always possible for these exchanges to take place. In some crashes, the drivers never even come face to face because of the seriousness of the collision and the resulting injuries.
Still, if a victim of a car accident is interested in seeking compensation for their injuries, they must determine whether the other driver has insurance and their policy limits. So what’s the best way to find out this information?
Ask the Other Driver at the Scene
In many cases, the most efficient and effective way of determining whether another driver has insurance is to simply ask them at the scene. After an accident, drivers typically exchange information, including the names of their insurance companies. However, it is not customary to divulge the characteristics of your auto coverage.
As someone who has experienced a crash, you do not initially need to know the extent of the other driver’s coverage. All you need is their personal details and the name of their insurance provider. Knowing their policy number might be helpful, as would knowing the make and model of their vehicle.
Contact Law Enforcement
There are important reporting requirements for car accidents in New Mexico. If an accident causes physical injury, death, or at least $500 in property damage, the drivers must report it to the authorities.
Once the accident is reported, police should arrive on the scene. At that time, they will collect relevant information from each driver, including insurance information.
As a party to the crash, you are privy to this insurance information and can get a copy of the police officer’s report. If the driver fled the scene before the police arrived, the authorities could help you track them down through their license plate information or footage taken by traffic cameras when available.
The police may also be able to conduct a license plate search to give you the other driver’s insurance information.
Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles
If you and the other driver did not exchange information at the scene or contact the police, you can head over to the DMV for your search. They will need a valid reason to look for the other person’s information — such as a car, truck, or motorcycle accident — and sufficient personal details about the other driver, like their name, vehicle make, and license plate number.
Call the Insurance Company
The other driver’s insurance company may be helpful in your quest.
If you happen to learn which insurer they use, you can contact the business directly for the details you need, such as:
- Coverage monetary limits
- Scope of coverage
- Procedures for filing a claim
You should never delay when car insurance compensation is on the line. The longer you wait to take action against another driver and their insurance company, the weaker your case will likely become.
Contact an Experienced Albuquerque Car Accident Lawyer for Help With Your Claim
To improve your odds of getting the maximum payout, you should always meet with a car accident attorney as early on as possible for guidance and representation. Car accident victims without attorneys typically receive far less compensation for their losses than car accident victims with attorneys.
If you were injured in a car accident in Albuquerque, NM, and need legal help, contact our Albuquerque car accident attorneys at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
400 Gold Avenue SW Suite 650
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 594-3621
Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
1221 E Osborn Rd. Suite 201
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 595-5559
Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers
5151 E Broadway Blvd. Suite 1600
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 492-0926