As is true in other states, California has regulations regarding the minimum amount of insurance a person needs to legally operate a vehicle. If a person is caught driving without this minimum insurance, they can face serious penalties. Even worse, if a person does not have the required amount of car insurance and they are injured in a car accident, their lack of coverage might make them ineligible to recover damages for pain and suffering.
Auto Insurance Requirements in California
You must have $15,000 per person for bodily injury and $30,000 per accident minimum liability. You are also required to have at least $5,000 for property damage liability, $15,000 per person for uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury, and $30,000 per accident minimum liability. If you have questions about minimum auto insurance coverage, contact your local insurance agent.
There Are Good Reasons to Require Auto Insurance
Some people believe that requiring auto insurance is government oversight. The truth is that when there is an accident in a vehicle, the injuries are almost always paid through an insurance company. California is an at-fault state, which means that the person who was at fault is responsible for paying for damages and injuries to injured parties. If they did not have insurance, then others would be responsible for protecting themselves from the danger others cause.
How to Determine if This is Enough Car Insurance for Your Needs
While every situation is different, it is likely that for about 99% of people, the minimum insurance is not enough. Generally speaking, you should carry coverage that is around twice the value of your personal assets. For example, if your home is worth $500,000 then you would want no less than $1 million in liability insurance. Why? Because that would prevent your home from being at risk if you injure someone.
Discover Whose Insurance Covers You if You Are Involved in an Accident
You might wonder: what if you are involved in an accident in which both you and another party are at fault? California is a comparative negligence state, which means that each party is responsible for paying damages equal to their percentage of fault. So if you are found to be 40% at fault for a car accident, then you could collect 60% of your damages from another at-fault party.
If you have been involved in a car accident and are not sure what your next move should be, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We can go over your options and determine if you have legal recourse.
