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Uninsured Driver Accident Attorney

What are California uninsured motorists?

Here are five types of California uninsured motorists:

  • Those with no auto insurance in place on the date of the accident
  • Vehicles driven by someone who was excluded from the policy on the date of the accident
  • Vehicles driven by hit and run drivers when the identity of the driver is unknown
  • Vehicles already reported as having been stolen on or before the date of the accident
  • Vehicles driven by someone who did not have permission of the owner to drive it

How many California drivers are uninsured?

A 2017 Insurance Research Council news release said that around 1 in 8 drivers in the US are uninsured. It went on to explain that in 2015, the number of drivers in the United States without any car insurance varied widely:

  • Maine: 4.5% of motorists were uninsured
  • Florida: 26.7% of motorists were uninsured
  • In California, 15.2% of motorists were uninsured.

How can I protect myself from getting hit by someone without insurance?

Before any accidentally happens, ideally you should buy both types of “uninsured motorist” insurance. One covers your injuries and one covers your car. The one that covers your injuries is called “uninsured motorist bodily injury”, or "UMBI". The one that covers your car is called “uninsured motorist property damage” or "UMPD". It's money well spent to buy these UM coverages because they “step into the shoes” of the person without insurance, as if they had insurance.

Does uninsured motorist insurance cover anyone besides the driver of the car that got hit by an uninsured driver?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage covers you, the driver who got hit by an uninsured motorist, and all the passengers in your car, and people who drive your car with your permission. You don't even have to be the driver of your car in order to have your uninsured motorist coverage kick in? Uninsured motorist coverage makes you eligible for benefits if your accident was one of the following types:

  • Driver
  • Bicyclist
  • Bystander
  • Motorcyclist
  • Passenger
  • Pedestrian

Will my California car insurance go up if I file an uninsured motorist claim?

Using your uninsured motorist coverage will not in and of itself automatically increase your insurance. But, it is one of many factors used by your own insurance company when they evaluate whether or not your insurance rate will increase. Other factors include things like your credit rating, where you live, how long you have been licensed, your DMV record, what kind of car you drive, and more.

Will my insurance company go after the uninsured driver?

Your insurance will go after the uninsured person, and the registered owner of the uninsured car, and demand that they repay the insurance company for any payments your own insurance made to you.

If you're reading this page because you got hit by someone who you believe did not have insurance, contact me. At times, people claim they don't have insurance, or the officer did not include it in the police report, but when the right attorney contacts that person, it may turn out that they actually have insurance but were just hoping that the injured person would just go away. There are other ways that I can find out insurance information.

What should I do after a car accident with an uninsured motorist?

Auto accident attorney Renée Yvonne Gardner (408) 214-5555

Practically any traffic crash is stressful. If you then find out the other party had no insurance, it can be even more stressful because now you're forced to figure out how to cover this accident from your own pocket. If you were hit by a driver who is uninsured, unless you have uninsured motorist coverage on your policy, you may be left with no insurance to pay your claim.  As with any other car accident, remember to do these things after a crash:

Call 911

Making a police report is super important because it will contain essential details of the car accident. Make sure to get a card from the police person - it will have their name, badge number, date of the report, time, and a report number. Take a cell phone picture of it and save the original card.

Seek medical attention

By seeing a doctor right away, the doctor will make a record of how you look, what you say, what they think and notice, and whether you're injured. No one else except for a doctor can do this for you. The medical record created by the doctor connects your injuries to the car accident you just had.

A thorough medical exam, blood work, and other tests that the doctor thinks are important will all be written down in your permanent medical record. That record can be used down the road to prove to the insurance company that you really got hurt in the accident like you say you did.

Don't talk to any insurance companies

Instead, right away, call a good attorney and get a no-cost consultation. There is no insurance company that wants to protect your bottom line - - dollars and cents, they are looking out for the insurance company. By hiring an attorney, you won't have to worry about filing your own claim, your rights will be protected, and you won't fall for the insurance company tricks

If you are hurt, reach out to me here: message me here.

Contact Renée Today

For one-on-one and personalized representation in serious personal injury or death cases, or streamlined and efficient small claims court assistance for your consumer issue, I'm here to serve you.

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