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Ask a Personal Injury Attorney: Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Worth the Cost?

When searching for auto insurance, there are many options to consider. You may not know which is the right coverage or which add-ons are worth it. Today we are going to cover one of the most common types of optional coverage: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Is it worth the cost? Read on to find out more.

First and foremost: We do recommend that you opt in for uninsured coverage

Let us get this out of the way: Yes, we recommend that you get uninsured motorist coverage. It is not legally required in the state of California but if you are involved in a car accident with a person who does not have insurance then this coverage can prevent you from being stuck paying medical bills. It can also help you collect for pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.

Underinsured motorist coverage is a little different

Underinsured coverage works differently and is also to your benefit. Likewise, it is important to know that if you buy uninsured coverage, then underinsured coverage comes with it without extra cost. The way it works is like this: If you get into an accident and the other driver does not have enough coverage to pay for your damages, then it can kick in.

Let us take this example. Let us say that you have $50,000 in underinsured coverage and the driver with whom you are in an accident has $15,000 in total coverage. Your underinsured coverage would give you the option of recovering the difference between your coverage ($50,000) and the driver’s coverage ($15,000). With these levels of coverage, the net benefit to you would be $35,000.

Auto insurance companies are required to offer this coverage

In the state of California, auto insurance companies are required by law to offer uninsured / underinsured coverage. The cost will vary based on your particular insurance provider, but we believe it is well worth it. Without it, if you are involved in a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle accident and the other driver does not have coverage or does not have adequate coverage, you could end up facing steep financial consequences.

There may be options if you do not have this additional coverage

If you have already been involved in an accident and you did not have this coverage, then you are not necessarily out of luck. Depending on the specifics, there may be other ways to collect for damages. For example, you could sue the at-fault driver directly. If they were working at the time of the accident, then their employer be liable for damages. If the accident was caused by an issue with either vehicle, then the manufacturer may be at fault.

The best way to know for sure if you have case and what your options are is to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. We will begin with a free legal consultation.