In California, when you pay for Uninsured Motorist coverage (UM), you also receive Underinsured Motorist coverage (“UIM”) in the same package. UIM can be critical in personal injury cases. So many drivers maintain only the required minimum auto liability insurance ($15,000 in California for a single accident victim and $30,000 for multiple victims), it’s likely that a driver who causes an accident will be underinsured. When an insurance policy is that small, it typically isn’t able provide enough compensation to cover a personal injury victim’s damages. And in multiple-vehicle crashes, it’s likely that the at-fault driver won’t have enough coverage to compensate multiple victims.
To make a UIM claim, you’ll have to prove that the policy covering the at-fault driver is depleted. When you purchase higher UM/UIM limits, you have more options if you end up pursuing a personal injury claim. When an at-fault driver is uninsured, you can pursue a UM claim against your insurer to recover your full compensation amount. If the at-fault driver is underinsured, you can exhaust that driver’s policy and move onto the available balance of your own UIM limits.
Protecting Yourself Financially After a Serious Car Accident
Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage plays an important role in protecting drivers when the at-fault party does not have enough insurance, or any insurance at all. Having sufficient coverage helps ensure that your own policy can step in to cover damages when needed.
Many drivers choose higher limits, such as $100,000 or $250,000 or more, to better protect themselves in the event of a serious accident. Higher coverage limits can make a significant difference when medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages begin to add up.
If you are involved in an auto accident that results in serious injury, it is important to understand your insurance coverage and legal options. An experienced California personal injury attorney can review your case, explain your rights, and help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to.
If you’ve been injured in a crash, contact a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and move forward with your claim.