Paulina Rubio -- I May Have Been Arrested, But the Other Guy is Getting Sued

Those annoying Progressive car insurance commercials worked on Paulina Rubio -- because that's the insurance company she was using when a guy smashed into her car last year ... and now they are suing that guy for the damage he caused.

As TMZ first reported, Rubio was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice after she allegedly cussed out the on-scene officers following the fender bender.

Now the insurance company has filed suit against Alberto Velasquez (aka The Other Driver) in Miami County Court, claiming his "negligent" and "careless" driving caused the June 2011 collision.

According to the docs, Progressive claims Velasquez was at fault and owes them $8,828.40 -- the amount it shelled out to fix Rubio's ride -- who was under their insurance plan at the time.