In a perfect world, we could all count on everyone else to do the right thing. Unfortunately, this isn’t a reality. California residents must instead be prepared to take care of their own safety and well-being, despite the actions of others. One of the ways you can plan against bad behavior by others is to have uninsured motorist coverage. But is it worth it? Read on to get our take and then contact us at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Imagine this scenario
You’re involved in a bad car accident that involves several catastrophic injuries that will require long periods of rehab along with several surgeries. In this accident, your car was totaled and now you can’t work for several months. The accident was 100% the fault of another driver. That driver even admitted they were at fault to the police. It may seem obvious that their insurance company is going to cover your injuries but that may not be the case.
How is this possible? Because the state of California only requires $15,000 of coverage per injured person and $30,000 total for an accident. That assumes that the driver has insurance at all – if they’re entirely uninsured then you’d get nothing from them. What do you do when you’re in this situation and your damages come up to close to $1 million?
You may sue the driver personally but it’s not likely to end in your favor
One of the first options people often consider is recovering damages by suing the person who caused the car accident. Unfortunately, the reality is that they are likely to just declare bankruptcy rather than pay you $1 million. In the event the driver was a minor, or it was a person who was driving someone else’s car, then paying the policy limits releases them of 100% of liability and there wouldn’t even be grounds to file a lawsuit.
Uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage may save you
Getting into an accident with someone who doesn’t have enough coverage could change the course of your life. This is why it’s often smart to invest in uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage. In most cases it’s fairly affordable. For example, you could expect to pay around $100 a year for $100,000 of coverage.
The way this coverage work
The process is actually simple. If the other driver has any coverage then the uninsured coverage kicks in when their policy is exhausted. If they have no insurance, then the uninsured coverage kicks in right away. For families who’ve suffered a serious accident, this added coverage can mean the difference between moving on from the accident and ending up bankrupt.
Which uninsured or underinsured insurance company is best?
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we are in the business of helping victims of accidents. We don’t have a recommendation about the best insurance company to work with and there are no answers about whether or not every person should have underinsured or uninsured coverage. We simply wanted to provide information so you know what your options are. If you’ve been involved in an accident, then call us at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
