It is difficult enough to deal with a car accident in San Francisco without the added issue of the other driver not having insurance. Handling this situation with your rights intact may require help from an experienced car accident attorney in San Francisco.
Hiring a lawyer can allow you to maximize your financial recovery despite the other driver unlawfully driving without the proper insurance. Your lawyer will explain your rights and protect them at every stage of the claims process. Meanwhile, you can focus on your future with peace of mind.
If you were injured in an accident involving an uninsured motorist, Jacoby & Meyers is here to help. Contact our experienced San Francisco uninsured motorist accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
California’s Minimum Auto Insurance Laws
To lawfully operate a motor vehicle in the State of California, a driver must purchase and maintain minimum amounts of insurance. Liability insurance is required, since California is an at-fault state. Under this insurance law, the driver responsible for causing a crash must pay for the damage it causes.
The minimum required amounts of automobile insurance for California drivers are:
- $30,000 per person for bodily injury or death
- $60,000 per accident for bodily injury or death
- $15,000 for property damage
A driver can choose to purchase additional coverage outside of these requirements for greater financial protection, if desired. Failing to keep proper insurance on a vehicle can lead to a fine of $100 to $500, plus vehicle registration suspension, vehicle impoundment and possible license suspension.
Steps to Take After an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist in San Francisco
Despite the law, hundreds of drivers in California drive without insurance every day. If you get involved in a collision and discover that the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Pull over at the scene of the accident or move your disabled vehicle out of the road, if possible.
- Check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries.
- Get immediate medical care, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured.
- Call 911 to report the crash to the San Francisco police.
- Don’t admit fault for the accident.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- When the police arrive, be sure to tell them the other driver does not have insurance.
- Collect evidence at the scene, such as photos, videos and witness information.
- Call your own insurance company to ask if you have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance.
- Consult with an attorney to explore your recovery options in the absence of insurance coverage from the other driver.
Taking the appropriate steps after an uninsured motorist accident can help you protect your physical health, maintain your eligibility for first-party insurance coverage and make your injury claim go more smoothly.
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What Happens When You Get Into an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist in San Francisco?
When the driver at fault for a car accident in San Francisco does not have enough or any insurance to cover your damages, you may be able to seek financial compensation from other sources. One of your options is first-party uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance.
UM/UIM insurance are suggested types of coverage that you can purchase for yourself in California. Insurance companies are required to offer this coverage upon the purchase of a policy. It must be specifically declined by the purchaser. If you don’t remember declining this coverage, you most likely have it on your policy.
Filing a claim with your own insurer could lead to coverage for your medical expenses and property damage up to the limits on your policy. If the other driver had some insurance, but not enough, your policy can provide supplemental coverage to cover the gap.
Can You File an Uninsured Car Accident Lawsuit?
If you do not have UM/UIM insurance on your own policy, other options may be available. This includes filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver or a third party. A personal injury lawsuit sues one or more parties outside of the insurance system to hold them personally and directly responsible for a wreck.
You have the right to bring a civil lawsuit against the other driver for causing your car accident and inflicting your injuries and related damages. However, a driver who failed to maintain car insurance coverage is unlikely to have the personal assets needed to cover your losses. This means you may need to look for third parties to hold liable.
Depending on the circumstances leading up to your accident and contributing to your injuries, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against a party such as the government of San Francisco for road hazards and defects, or the manufacturer of a defective automotive part. A San Francisco personal injury lawyer working for you can investigate your accident thoroughly to identify any liable third parties.
Types of Compensation Available in an Uninsured Motorist Accident
Successfully accessing insurance coverage or securing a positive jury verdict for your uninsured motorist accident in San Francisco could lead to the financial compensation you need to cover your related losses.
Your financial recovery could include:
- Present and future medical costs
- Motor vehicle and personal property damage
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Disability or disfigurement
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- The wrongful death of a loved one, if applicable
- Punitive damages, in some cases
Securing fair and full compensation for your uninsured motorist accident in San Francisco may require assistance and representation from a San Francisco uninsured motorist accident attorney. You can count on a lawyer to fight for the case results and justice that you deserve.
Contact Our San Francisco Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorneys Today
Dealing with the claims process after an uninsured motorist accident in San Francisco is no easy feat. You are likely dealing with serious injuries and expensive medical bills in addition to the complicated claims process that arises when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. The most effective way to handle this claim is by hiring a San Francisco uninsured motorist accident attorney.
Whether you’re dealing with your own insurance company or you wish to file a lawsuit, you will be entering into a legal dispute. Unfortunately, insurance providers cannot be trusted to offer fair settlements right away. An insurer may try to deny fault, blame you for the crash or offer an unreasonably low settlement.
An uninsured motorist accident attorney in San Francisco will determine the true value of your claim and fight for the damages that you deserve, both in and out of the courtroom. Your lawyer can handle complex uninsured motorist issues, collect evidence against one or more parties, file your claim with an insurance company, and represent you in court, if necessary, to aid in your recovery. If you’ve recently been hurt in an accident with an uninsured motorist in San Francisco, contact Jacoby & Meyers for a free consultation with an attorney about how we can help. Call (415) 855-4289 now.