No matter how safe of a driver you are in Los Angeles, unfortunately you share the roads with other drivers who may not be as safe. Normally when you have an injury caused by the fault of another party, you are entitled to pursue a lawsuit for all of the damages to which you are entitled by law. However, if the person who caused the accident has no insurance or inadequate insurance, and no personal assets to compensate you, you may be out of luck. This is a good reason to have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance as part of your coverage.
Under California law, drivers are required to have automobile insurance. However, the minimum amounts of insurance they are required to carry are low. If a person suffers moderate or severe injuries in an accident, the minimum amount of insurance is not likely to be sufficient to fully compensate the victim. Many drivers ignore those requirements altogether and do not carry any insurance.
If you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, you should be able to collect your damages from your insurance carrier rather than the person who harmed you. However, it’s important to keep in mind that your best interests are different from the best interests of your insurance carrier. Insurance companies stay in business by paying out less on claims than they take in in premiums. Your insurance company may try to find a way to pay less on the claim than you are entitled to, or may deny your claim altogether.
If you have been harmed in an automobile accident in Los Angeles who does not have insurance or is underinsured, you may wish to speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney, at 310-385-0567. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.