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Can I Reinstate My Lapsed Insurance on the Day of An Accident?

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No, you cannot reinstate after an accident. And trying to do so just won’t work. Maintaining auto insurance is more than just important – under New Jersey law, it’s illegal to drive without insurance. Driving while uninsured can lead to fines, the suspension of your driver’s license or registration and jail time. These are all serious consequences that are easily avoided by keeping your insurance up to date. If you do not have insurance at the time of the accident, you cannot recover for personal injury losses, not to mention medical bills and property damage claims. The bar to claims for personal injury claims applies even when it is someone else’s fault!

We read about a recent case, Megna v. Leading Ins. Serv., Inc., from the New Jersey Appellate Division which highlighted the importance of staying up to date on your payments even though it involved property damage claims. In that case the insured’s policy lapsed and on the very next day there was a fire. The plaintiff tried to reinstate the policy while the fire was burning. Of course, the Court said that was too late even though the insurer accepted the electronic payment at the time the fire was burning. The plaintiff received no coverage, but the Court ordered a refund of their post-cancellation premium payments. Trying to reinstate, not only after the fact but while it is happening just does not work.

After the accident is too late to get insurance. The law requires all owners and drivers of New Jersey garaged vehicles to carry insurance. The consequences of not carrying the insurance can be disastrous. If you are involved in an accident with a car or commercial truck that is no fault of your own, you are still barred from recovery for personal injuries if you do not have insurance on your car. That is a tough pill to swallow for most people.

If you are unclear about what protections your auto insurance policy provides, our attorneys at Levinson Axelrod, P.A. are ready to help by providing you with a free insurance policy review.

Our New Jersey personal injury attorneys have worked to defend the rights of injured victims for more than 75 years. Through our tireless efforts, we have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, and are committed to providing each new client we accept with the experienced legal representation we have become known for. If you were seriously injured, give us a call at (732) 440-3089 to speak with a member of our firm, or fill out our online form to request a free case evaluation today.

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