Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists

Name: Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists
Brand: The Swanson Law Group
Rating: 4.9 (104 reviews)

California: The 10th highest state for uninsured drivers

In California, it is estimated that 16.6% of drivers on the road have no auto insurance.

This is about one in every six drivers, making California the 10th highest state for uninsured drivers. Even though the law requires drivers to be covered, millions are not. To make matters worse, many drivers are underinsured, carrying only the minimum required by law. If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, the problem of recovering fair compensation can get complicated.

California state law and auto insurance

Under state law, auto insurance providers must offer UMC/UIM (uninsured, underinsured) coverage. This insurance is not legally required, but if you add it to your auto insurance, it could benefit you. This insurance pays your damages when an uninsured or underinsured driver is at fault. State law requires drivers to have liability insurance, which is at best minimal.

When insurance can’t pay enough, what are your options?

According to the California DMV, the minimum coverage required is $15,000 for bodily injury or death, $30,000 total (multiple injuries or deaths), and $5,000 for property damage. In a serious injury accident, this level of coverage barely scratches the surface of the cost of medical bills, as $15,000 may not even cover a single day of treatment at the hospital. So what do you do? Will your health insurance cover you? What if you don’t have health insurance?

A law firm that investigates every option for you

Our approach in these cases is to investigate every option. Did your auto insurance company offer you UMC/UIM insurance? Can they present the documents you signed declining it? If they failed to offer this added coverage to you, we can take legal action against them to force them to pay your damages. Does the at-fault party have assets (such as a home, vehicles, or other valuables) or other types of insurance through work or family members? We investigate every avenue that could help you through this challenging time.

Your own auto insurance and compensation

If the at-fault driver has no auto insurance and you have UM/UIM coverage, you’re covered up to the policy limits. However, we love to get an insurance company to pay more than the policy limits — and we have done so numerous times. Our goal is to find a pathway to fair compensation so our clients can regain their health as much as possible and be paid for all losses, both financial and personal. We focus on serving the Hispanic community, a group that we highly respect and often see being the target of bullying by insurance companies. We hold these companies accountable.

What are the damages in an accident?

After an accident, various damages are valued. These damages, whether in a vehicle accident, premises liability, or other types of personal injury cases, include:

Economic damages: These are the actual losses you suffered, including the cost of medical care (now and estimated for the future), lost income from work, lost earning capacity, transportation, medications, surgeries, and other costs such as inability to continue to work in your chosen career, and all other out-of-pocket expenses related to the injuries.
Non-economic damages: The non-economic damages can be the largest portion of a settlement in a personal injury case. These are more personal losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, emotional anguish, the loss of relationships, permanent impairments, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Punitive damages: In some cases, additional damages could be pursued if the at-fault party's actions are grossly negligent.

What to do if uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you

If you have been seriously injured by a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance or who only carries the minimum coverage — which is not even close to covering your damages — it’s time to get legal assistance. These cases need a car accident attorney & at The Swanson Law Group, we fully investigate every detail to determine how to best move forward. Our dedication to our clients goes above and beyond the ordinary, and our approach has led to hundreds of millions of dollars being paid to our clients.

Free case evaluation

Call us for a free case consultation with no obligation. When we take on a case, it is on a contingency fee basis. This means you owe us nothing unless we win for you. Allow us to turn your chaos into tranquility. Our goal isn’t just to get you money; it’s to help you rebuild your life. We are your advocates and will guide you on the path to a brighter future. Our team is here to answer your questions and provide you with resources to help you improve your health, your finances, and your quality of life.