If you have been in a car accident with an under-insured or uninsured driver, you must read up on the uninsured motorist policy. Contacting an experienced Sacramento car accident attorney can ensure you are doing everything right for filing a claim. It’s hard enough being involved in an automobile accident, but it’s much worse when the driver that was at fault is either under-insured or uninsured. That’s where California uninsured and under-insured insurance policy comes in hand.
Uninsured and Under-Insured Policy
California uninsured and under-insured (UM/UIM) motorist insurance policies are purchased by an individual as part of his or her own automobile insurance. They are used in the event you are injured in a car accident with a driver who does not have insurance or who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages. They are brought up against your own insurance company as opposed to the other driver. Uninsured drivers are very common in California. In fact, up to 4.1 million drivers are uninsured and many more are driving under-insured. Half of all accidents in California may involve at least one uninsured motorist. This means that if you drive in California at all, you need to be knowledgeable of this policy. Contacting a lawyer can help you with the specifics that pertain to your circumstance. If you were involved in a car accident, you will need to figure out if you carry uninsured motorist coverage. Although you can do this without a lawyer, an experienced attorney can consult because it’s not as simple as many believe it is. And although these two types of policy sound similar, they are different.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
This type of coverage is intended to pay for your medical bills and property damage expenses in the event the at-fault driver dot does not carry any liability insurance. You have two options in this type of situation. The first is to sue the other driver and go after their personal assets but generally, those who do not have liability insurance often do not have enough personal assets for you to go after. The next option would be to file a UM claim against your own policy.
What Is Under-Insured Motorist Coverage?
This type of coverage fills the gap between what your bills and expenses are and what the other driver’s insurance coverage provides. For example, if you’re involved in a car accident that results in $20,000 in medical bills and expenses, and the at-fault driver carries liability insurance with a policy limit of $10,000, that driver is under-insured. You would need to file an under-insured claim against your own policy. If you are making a claim, you need to act quickly. Typically, the time for such claims is limited depending on the policyholder. Sometimes, a UM claim is denied and you need legal representation to fight for what is yours. Your own insurance company may find you at fault of the accident, which would make an already bad situation, much worse. You would need to gather the police reports, conduct an investigation and go through the complicated and frustrating process. A skilled Sacramento car accident attorney can alleviate you of those burdens so you don’t have to add more stress to your life. Insurance companies are a nightmare to deal with! They like to play games and make things much more complicated. UM/UIM cases have more loopholes and traps than regular cases do.
Contact a Sacramento car accident attorney immediately if you are hit by an uninsured motorist by calling (916) 357-6767 today!