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What Are My Legal Options if I Was Hit By an Unlicensed Driver? It is estimated that anywhere between one and two million people in California drive without a license. If you are injured in an accident caused by an unlicensed driver, it could be harder to recover compensation. Driving without a license on your person is illegal in California. However, drivers who leave their licenses at home are not considered unlicensed. Before assuming a driver is unlicensed because he or she was cited for not carrying a driver’s license, be sure to find out if the person has a valid driver’s license. Most unlicensed drivers are uninsured. Those who do have an insurance policy are usually an exception. An unlicensed driver may own the vehicle and have insurance but not be licensed to drive it. His or her license might have been suspended but the insurance company has not yet canceled the policy. The unlicensed driver may also have borrowed a vehicle that has insurance. It is important to know your legal options if you are hit by an unlicensed driver. The first option is to file a claim with your Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. You may also have a claim against the insurance of the vehicle’s owner if he or she let the unlicensed driver take the vehicle for a ride. This applies whether the owner knowingly let the person drive or did not take reasonable precautions to prevent the unlicensed driver from taking the vehicle.
