What Happens if You are Injured by an Uninsured Driver?
If you get injured in a car accident where the at-fault driver did not have liability insurance, your options include filing a claim with your own uninsured motorist insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit against the uninsured driver.
California law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, but if you only carry this legal minimum, that only helps you if the accident is your fault; it pays for injuries that you caused to the other vehicle and its occupants. If you sustain injuries in an accident, it is the other driver’s insurance company that sends you a settlement check. The real problems begin if the driver who caused your accident did not carry liability insurance, even though the law requires them to carry it. It is possible to get reimbursed for your accident-related losses if you get injured by an uninsured driver, but it takes a lot of work. The most straightforward way to get the money to which you are entitled after an accident with an uninsured driver is to contact the Murrieta car accident lawyer at Gibbs & Fuerst.
If You Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance
Your own insurance coverage might be your best hope after a collision with an uninsured motorist. California only requires you to carry insurance to cover liability (for injuries you cause to other people) and property damage (for your own car), but it offers additional types of insurance to protect you in the event of an accident with an uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist insurance also covers your medical bills and pain and suffering resulting from accidents caused by uninsured drivers. Uninsured motorist insurance may also provide you coverage if the other driver is insured, but the other driver’s insurance policy limits are too small to compensate you for all your damages, including pain and suffering. MedPay insurance will cover your medical bills up to a certain amount (the amount depends on which plan you buy), regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
If You Do Not Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance
One of the reasons that states require drivers to carry car insurance is to prevent lawsuits, and in fact, most car accident claims can be settled with insurance companies without anyone going to court. An accident caused by an uninsured driver, however, is exactly the kind of situation where you need to talk to a lawyer to decide how best to proceed to get the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Murrieta Car Accident Lawyers at Gibbs & Fuerst
A Murrieta car accident lawyer can help you recover damages if you have been injured in a car accident where the at-fault driver did not have liability insurance or had liability insurance limits that do not fully compensate you for your injuries. Contact Gibbs & Fuerst LLP to discuss your case.