# Subpoenaed to testify. No lawyers have contacted me -- should they have?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subpoenaed-to-testify-no-lawyers-have-contacted-me-should-they-have/1009506>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 31, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subpoenaed-to-testify-no-lawyers-have-contacted-me-should-they-have/1009506 "2024-10-31T16:58:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subpoenaed-to-testify-no-lawyers-have-contacted-me-should-they-have/1009506/61 "2024-11-12T17:04:31Z")

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> [@Napier](#):
>
> It seems to me (and the lady) as if this insurance company is going to pay out for an accident that occurred before the guy became their customer.

I could be that because it is an ongoing case that they want to see if he was a fault before starting his insurance.

> [@flurb](#):
>
> If I were you, I would nope out of any further involvement in this situation. You met your legal obligation per the subpoena, you’re under no obligation to speak with this insurance company.

Exactly. If it was a subpoena for a deposition then you are obliged to attend but just rando insurance company on the phone? That’s what depositions are for.

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**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subpoenaed-to-testify-no-lawyers-have-contacted-me-should-they-have/1009506/62 "2024-11-12T17:55:00Z")

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I recall many many years ago (1970 or so) Ontario had an unisured drivers option. You could decline to insure your car, but then you had to pay personally if you got into an accident. (Both medical and auto repairs were a lot cheaper back then.) Basically, the provine would foot the bill, and then you had to pay them.

I guy I worked with had been in an accident and owed money. He left the province, got a driver’s license in another province, and one Christmas was driving back to see his family when he was pulled over. The Ontario police were nice about it, they let him park his car in a nearby parking lot and continue his travel by bus, but essentially he was banned from driving in Ontario until he paid that debt. He had to get a friend to go back and retreive the car for him.

I vaguely recall that this option disappeared sometime in the 1970’s. You must have insurance now.

Alternatively, the insurance company in the OP may be involved because they were once the insurer and were obliged to notify DMV when the insurance lapsed? What are the reporting requirements for insurance companies? Can they be responsible if they did not?

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