It’s estimated one in 5 California drivers gets behind the wheel without auto insurance.

It is a sobering statistic for anyone who drives the state’s busy highways and interstates.

If someone you love is commuting home in heavy traffic, they could become a statistic in a dangerous gamble taken by millions of Californians.

With 23 million California drivers on the roads, it is no wonder we don’t see more accident scenes.

But what if you’re involved in an accident and the person who hits you does not have an insurance policy?

The state insurance commissioner estimates that there are more than 3 million uninsured drivers in California.

Insurance companies said the number is much higher.

"When you have a very dense area with a lot of drivers, the numbers are going to go up. Also I think it has a lot to do with undocumented workers who can't get licenses,” said Allstate insurance agent Pete Moraga.

Moraga said half of the cars in urban areas like San Diego and Los Angeles are operated by uninsured drivers.

Dave Layton knows the devastation of uninsured drivers first hand.

It began with a green light.

Layton said, “The next thing I knew, I was sideswiped by a vehicle. I remember metal crushing and glass breaking. I went through the window and hit her vehicle, and then bounced off 35 feet in the other direction. I saw that she was in her car and was trying to start her car. She was trying to leave.”

Layton’s accident occurred on last Thanksgiving, and he is now trying to find the woman who hit him.

The woman did not show up for court appearances or respond to calls and letters from attorneys.

The woman is identified as 27-year-old Yesenia Nunez, an Orange County woman who has no insurance, no driver's license and who has been the cause of three accidents in the past year.

Nunez has not paid for the accident, nor has she paid off her traffic ticket.

Layton pays for the crash every day.

"I would just like her to see what's she's done to me physically, financially and emotionally,” said Layton.

Financially, Layton has drained his family’s bank accounts to pay off medical bills totaling $250,000 -- a result of the growing cost of not having insurance.

"I'm in pain right now. I'm always in pain,” said Layton.

10News tracked Nunez to an Orange County apartment complex, but she has not responded to requests for an interview.

Insurers said there are millions of drivers like Nunez in California with no insurance and no guarantee they will ever pay for the damages caused to their victims.

Of the 60,000 traffic accidents in California every year, as many as 20,000 will likely involve uninsured drivers.

According to the 10News investigation, Nunez is still free and driving.

California offers low-cost insurance for those drivers who qualify. Information can be found here.