Uninsured Drivers in California
An uninsured motorist is a great safety hazard on California’s highways and roads. Being in an auto accident is stressful enough, but when one of the parties involved is an uninsured/underinsured motorist, the situation is even more unfair and frustrating.
Some insurance is better than none
A large amount of drivers assume that because they’re covered it doesn’t matter if the other party involved is uninsured or underinsured, unfortunately that’s not always the case. Our goal at the Edward A Smith Law Offices is to help advise California drivers about choosing the best car insurance coverage to have in order to provide the absolute most protection for yourself, your family and your passengers.
Insurance Information Institute
According to data provided from the Insurance Information Institute (III) California has major problems with drivers operating vehicles without adequate auto insurance.
- In 2012 in the United States, an estimated $2.6 billion was on uninsured motorist claims.
- California has the highest amount of uninsured drivers in the country. It is estimated that nearly 4.1 million motorists are driving without insurance.
- Approximately 1 out of every 8 drivers in the United States is uninsured.
The statists above are very troubling. Which makes it even more crucial for you to be proactive and make sure you are properly and fully insured.
Auto Insurance Q&A
It is important for drivers in California to understand what their insurance policy covers and even more important to understand what it does not cover.
Q: Does my auto insurance protect my family and me in the event of an auto accident involving an uninsured motorist?
A: First, let me clear up a very common misconception about uninsured motorist coverage: I often hear from people that they have “Full Coverage” it’s important to understand that full coverage is a very frequently used term in the auto insurance world, but it’s not an actual type of insurance coverage. You may have collision, comprehensive protection, and liability. Your policy may still be lacking other types of important coverage such as rental car, uninsured motorist, or roadside assistance. To answer the question it depends on the coverage of your personal auto insurance policy.
Q: Can I save money by waiving the underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage of my policy?
A: This is one of the largest mistakes a driver can make when choosing their auto insurance coverage. Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage is so vital because it’s the only type of coverage that protects you and the passengers in your vehicle. If you’re involved in an auto accident and the other party does not have adequate coverage or any insurance at all, your underinsurance/uninsured coverage is the only thing left for you to fall back on. It doesn’t cost much more than a few dollars extra a month, but the benefits of it are priceless.
Q: How much underinsured/uninsured bodily injury coverage should I have?
A: At the Edward A Smith Law Offices, our attorneys generally recommend a policy with at least $100,000/$300,000 in uninsured/underinsured bodily injury coverage. That means in the event of an accident, each person is covered and insured for up to $100,000, and you have up to $300,000 of total coverage per incident. $100,000 per person generally is enough to cover medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering of all but the more serious injuries.
Yuba City Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City auto accident attorney. If you or a loved one is seriously hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, please call me at (530) 392-9400 or you can reach me toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
I have been assisting families in Northern California with their personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1982.
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Source of California Uninsured Drivers:
http://www.iii.org/insurance-topics/auto-insurance
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Source of California Uninsured Drivers: http://www.iii.org
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons
:RTC