How to Find Out the Name of the Insurance Company for a Person Who Crashed Into Your Car

A car wreck can leave you with costly repairs, the need to replace a vehicle and medical bills for yourself and others. In many states you can look to the other driver's vehicle insurance if he or she is the blame. Most states require motorists to carry insurance that pays the physical damages or personal injuries caused by careless driving. As a result, you can readily find the name of the driver's insurance company -- if the driver obeys the insurance law.

Do not leave the accident scene without getting all the information you can or without the permission of the police. Leaving the scene may be illegal in your state. Photograph the license plate and car if you can do so without getting hurt. If you don’t have a camera or if it's not safe to take pictures, write down the license plate number, make, model and color of the vehicle. Call 911 or the police or highway patrol. Your state likely will require you to call police if someone dies or is injured in the accident.

Ask the other driver for the vehicle registration card, insurance card or a copy of the insurance policy. The driver should have at least the registration or insurance card in the car that struck you. When the police respond, the officer will generally gather insurance information from you and all the other drivers involved.

If you can’t get the insurance company’s name at the accident scene, get a copy of the accident report. Your state motor vehicle division will have it if the highway patrol or state police responded. Contact the police or sheriff’s office where the crash happened if police or sheriff responded. Drivers are required to file an accident report (if the police haven’t already) if someone was injured or died or if the damage exceeds a certain dollar amount or someone dies or is injured.

You don’t necessarily need to fret if the driver that hit you has no insurance. If you or your parents carry uninsured motorist insurance, your company pays you for vehicle damage or your injuries if the other driver is at fault. When you try to collect under your uninsured coverage, your insurance company is actually defending the driver that hit you. In states such as Oregon, uninsured coverage must come with your insurance policy. Other states allow you to choose if you want it, though in some states it is not available. Collision insurance reimburses you for the vehicle damage after you pay a certain amount -- called the deductible -- out of your own pocket. Unlike uninsured motorist insurance, you can get collision coverage even if you can’t blame the other driver.