What can you do if you hit the car in front of you but the guy/woman has no insurance?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your recent car accident.  First you should be aware that the laws regarding motor vehicle accidents and auto liability will vary from state to state, and given these variations, your specific situation could depend on the nuances of your state’s laws.  However, there are some commonalities throughout this area of law. 

Generally speaking, auto accidents are governed by two types of laws.  The first type of law is the no-fault system, and the second type of law is the tort system.  If your car accident occurred in a state that follows a no-fault system, then each person’s insurance company cover’s their own insurer’s vehicle’s damages.  You can see why this is a problem when one of the drivers involved in the accident is not insured.  If you drive without insurance and cause a car collision, then you will be held personally responsible for all damages that you cause in the accident.  In states with tort systems, the at-fault person in the car accident pays for any damages via their insurance company.  If an uninsured driver should be at fault, then the other driver may be left with the paying for their own damages but reserves the right to sue the uninsured driver to be reimbursed for any costs they had to pay as a result of the accident. 

The driver’s behavior, as you described as violent, may come into play if this ever came in front of an arbitration panel or a jury.  The people awarding damages would be assessing the credibility of both parties, and if the other driver cannot maintain their composure, then the panel or jury may use that information in their decision-making process when awarding damages.