If you cause an accident, your liability insurance covers the other person's losses. But what happens if the other driver was at fault but doesn't have enough insurance to cover your serious injury?
This is a common problem and we have decades of experience in this area of personal injury law. If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact us online or call 650.425.3267.
Accidents With An Uninsured Driver
By law, every California driver must have liability coverage to pay for bodily injury to others in an accident. But the person who ran into you may carry only the minimum insurance policy ($15,000 per person and a maximum of $30,000 per accident). Your medical bills and lost wages can easily exceed this amount. And despite the law, there are thousands and thousands of people driving around with no auto insurance at all.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
On your own auto insurance policy, you have uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This kicks in if:
- The other driver has no insurance
- Your losses exceed the other driver's coverage limits
- The other driver fled scene (hit and run)
The limits of your UM/UIM policy may determine whether you are fully compensated for a car accident. We commonly represent people who have $1 million in coverage for the other guy, but the lowest limits on their own UM/UIM coverage. We advise all our clients on the appropriate amount of insurance to carry, so that you are fully protected whether you hit someone or someone hits you.
Fighting for Your Rightful Compensation
On your own, you may run into a dead end with your insurance adjuster. Many insurers will deny your UM/UIM claim, countering that the accident was your fault, or that your injuries are not as severe as you say.
If you are represented by our experienced uninsured driver accident lawyers, it is in the insurance company's best interests to offer a fair settlement. First of all, they know that Galine, Frye & Fitting can and does go to trial. Secondly, we commonly take these cases to arbitration rather than a jury. If the arbitrator's decision is substantially more than your insurance company offered, you can sue for punitive damages for bad faith denial.
Call us at 650.425.3267 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation and evaluation of your uninsured/underinsured motorist policy and your injury claim.
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