If you’re driving without car insurance, you’ll need it if you’re ever asked to show proof of financial responsibility during a traffic stop. Driving without insurance will be challenging if you cause an accident and are held responsible for damages.
What happens if you are caught driving without insurance? It’s a class 2 misdemeanor in South Dakota, with a maximum 30-day jail sentence and $500 fine. County courts aren’t handing out maximum sentences for every traffic violation. First-time offenders usually aren’t penalized as harshly as repeat ones, but even if you get off easy, you’ll still lose your license for 30 days. You won’t get it back until you prove you have car insurance.
Financial Losses
If you are found to be at fault for an accident in South Dakota, then you will be held financially responsible for all the losses resulting from that accident.
Vehicle damage, property damage, personal injury: it isn’t uncommon for at-fault drivers to pay restitution for all of these. That is why the state of South Dakota requires each motorist to carry these minimum amounts of insurance:
- Property damage: $25,000/accident
- Bodily injury: $25,000/person; $50,000/accident
- Uninsured motorist: $25,000/person; $50,000/accident
- Underinsured motorist: $25,000/person; $50,000/accident
If you have car insurance, then you have means of paying off the damages you are legally responsible for. If you don’t have car insurance, then the other car’s driver and passengers can press charges or take you to small claims court. If you can’t pay, then the court may garnish your wages, put a lien on your house, or compel you to pay off your debt in regular installments.
It is estimated that about one out of five drivers in Sioux Falls, SD are uninsured. That’s why it’s crucial to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If you do win compensation for your personal damages in court, it may take a long time for the at-fault driver to pay out.
If you live in Sioux Falls, SD, make sure you have auto insurance. It will keep you out of trouble, and it can save you from losing everything if you’re held at fault for an auto accident. Contact McKinneyOlson Insurance today for an auto insurance quote!