If you were in a car accident and discovered the other driver was uninsured, you might be understandably upset and confused. You’ve done your part by paying your insurance premiums, so why should you have to deal with the consequences of someone else’s irresponsibility? A Carlsbad uninsured driver accident attorney from Miller & Steele Law Firm can review your situation and explain your legal options. You shouldn’t be left to pay for someone else’s careless mistake; we are here to fight for you.
California Mandatory Insurance Requirements
In California, all drivers are required to protect other drivers from their negligent actions. This is primarily by maintaining liability insurance. The minimum liability insurance limits are:
- $30,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $60,000 for bodily injury to more than one person
- $15,000 for property damage
California drivers can alternatively satisfy this requirement by making a $75,000 cash deposit with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, obtaining a surety bond of $75,000 from a company licensed to conduct business in California, or receiving a self-insurance certificate from the DMV.
California even offers a Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program to help individuals who cannot afford liability insurance.
If a person is caught driving without insurance, they can be fined, subject to penalty assessment fees, and have their vehicle towed.
Uninsured Motorist Claims in Carlsbad, CA
Even though all drivers are supposed to carry liability insurance, some may break the law. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17% of drivers in California are uninsured.
If an uninsured motorist hits you, you could have the right to sue them with a Carlsbad car accident attorney. However, if they cannot afford insurance, they may not have any assets you could seize if you won a judgment against them, so it might not be worth the time or hassle of pursuing this legal route.
However, you may have another option: filing an uninsured motorist claim. This is a claim you file with your own insurance provider.
California insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage to auto insurance buyers. You should have this coverage unless you signed a waiver explicitly rejecting it. Uninsured motorist coverage may consist of the following:
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury: This coverage pays for injuries to you and anyone else in your car at the time of the accident.
- Underinsured motorist: This coverage helps pay for your damages when the at-fault driver has insufficient coverage.
- Uninsured motorist property damage: This coverage pays for property damage to your car caused by an uninsured at-fault driver, up to $3,500
- Collision deductible waiver: This coverage pays your collision deductible if an uninsured driver damages your vehicle.
California insurance customers can also buy Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage, which pays for emergency medical care due to an accident, subject to policy limits.
Call for a Free Case Review with Our Carlsbad Uninsured Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident involving an uninsured driver, a Carlsbad uninsured driver accident attorney from Miller & Steele Law Firm can review your legal options. Call us today at (760) 840-5221 or contact us online to get started with a free consultation with a Carlsbad injury attorney.