Oakland Uninsured Car Accident Lawyers

You can still recover compensation after a car accident in Oakland even if the driver isn’t insured. Our Oakland uninsured car accident lawyers can help you seek benefits from your car insurance policy, file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver, and exhaust all options for financial recovery to help you get back on your feet.

Were you recently involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver in Oakland, California? Just because the driver was uninsured doesn’t mean you can’t recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering. The experienced Oakland car accident lawyers at Cutter Law P.C. can help you work toward a meaningful financial recovery.

We’re nationally recognized, award-winning California trial attorneys with over 130 years of combined legal experience. Every case we handle is personal to us, and our commitment to our clients is unmatched.

We help crash victims and grieving families in Oakland and across Northern California win life-changing compensation. Our California personal injury law firm has won over $100 million in settlements and verdicts for clients like you.

Contact our legal team in Oakland to set up a time for a free consultation. We are always available to take your call—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Quick Links

What are the minimum car insurance requirements in California?
Are a lot of drivers in California uninsured?
How can I recover compensation if I’m hurt in an accident with an uninsured driver?
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
How long do I have to file a claim or lawsuit if I’ve been in a car accident with an uninsured driver in Oakland?
How can Cutter Law P.C. help me with my personal injury claim after a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Oakland?

What are the minimum car insurance requirements in California?

Under California state law, all vehicles must be covered by a valid car insurance policy. In fact, a car can’t be registered unless the driver can show proof of coverage.

California sets certain minimum requirements for insurance to help ensure that victims are covered if they suffer injuries, experience property damage, or lose a family member in a car accident.

Current minimum car insurance requirements in California include:

Bodily injury: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
Property damage: $5,000 per accident

You don’t necessarily have to purchase insurance from a company like Geico or Allstate to satisfy the state’s insurance requirements. You also have the option of placing a cash deposit of $35,000 with the DMV or having proof of self insurance.

Are a lot of drivers in California uninsured?

Despite the fact that California requires insurance, and that insurance companies report coverage to the DMV, many drivers are uninsured.

California has the 10th highest rate of uninsured drivers in the country. Data from the Insurance Information Institute (III) reveals that about 16.6 percent of California drivers are uninsured.

There are roughly 25.5 million registered drivers in California. Based on the III’s data, it’s probable that 4.24 million California drivers don’t have insurance.

How can I recover compensation if I’m hurt in an accident with an uninsured driver?

California is a “fault” state, which means that the at-fault party’s insurance company is primarily responsible for damages after an accident.

If you get into an accident with a driver who doesn’t have car insurance, potential options for recovery include:

Filing a claim with a third party’s insurance carrier if someone else contributed to the auto accident
Recovering workers’ compensation benefits if you were injured in a work-related car accident
Filing a personal injury lawsuit directly against the uninsured driver or another liable party
Submitting a claim to your own insurance company to recover uninsured motorist benefits

Uninsured motorist coverage might be your best bet, especially if the uninsured driver is solely responsible for the accident. Even though you might be able to file a lawsuit against them—and even win—the driver might not have the financial resources or assets to pay the settlement or jury award.

What is uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is optional add-on protection to your personal car insurance policy. California law requires insurance companies to offer UM coverage to you when you buy a policy. You can decline UM coverage, but must do so in writing.

If you get into an accident and discover that the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage simply takes the place of the insurance that the at-fault driver should have had. You submit a claim with your own insurance company and request benefits from your UM policy.

Uninsured motorist coverage doesn’t just protect you as a driver or passenger in a vehicle. You can also collect benefits from your UM policy if you are injured in an Oakland bicycle accident or pedestrian accident.

There are three types of uninsured motorist coverage that you can add to your California car insurance policy: UMBI, UMPD, and UIM.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI)

After an accident, UMBI can cover the costs of:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Pain and suffering

This coverage can also be helpful if you’re in a hit and run accident in Oakland and the at-fault driver can’t be located.

Coverage for UMBI protection starts at $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD)

You might notice that UMBI doesn’t cover damage to your vehicle or other property damage. That’s where UMPD coverage is helpful.

In California, UMPD protection is limited to $3,500 per accident. Unlike UMBI coverage, it cannot be used in a hit and run unless the at-fault driver is identified.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM)

You can also add underinsured motorist coverage to your California car insurance policy. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) can be used in situations where you exhaust the insurance benefits available under a negligent party’s coverage. The driver has insurance, but their policy limits aren’t enough to cover the full extent of your damages. You can submit a claim to collect benefits from the UIM coverage you added to your policy.

How long do I have to file a claim or lawsuit if I’ve been in a car accident with an uninsured driver in Oakland?

California’s two-year statute of limitations will apply to your uninsured motorist accident case.

So, you’ll have until the second anniversary of your Oakland car accident to file a lawsuit or submit a claim to your insurance company to recover uninsured motorist coverage benefits.

Once the statute of limitations expires, you lose the right to file a claim and secure compensation for your life-changing car accident injuries. Do not hesitate to assert your rights. You should not bear the burden of your accident on your own.

$596,000 Verdict

for a motorcyclist who was seriously injured when a car failed to yield the right of way

$678,000 Verdict

for a pedestrian whose knee and pelvis were injured as a result of being hit by a vehicle.

How can Cutter Law P.C. help me with my personal injury claim after a crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Oakland?

Car accidents are stressful enough when drivers are insured. Getting into a wreck with an uninsured or underinsured driver can make an incredibly difficult situation even worse. Fortunately, you have options, and the experienced Oakland uninsured car accident lawyers at Cutter Law P.C. can help you figure out the best path to a financial recovery.

Our hard work, dedication, and resources have helped us achieve life-changing results for clients like you time and time again. When you’re faced with an uncertain future after a car accident, turn to us for help. We’ll be prepared to handle the challenges you face and work to secure a meaningful financial award on your behalf.

While our Oakland personal injury lawyers investigate your case, determine liability, identify potential legal options, and seek damages, you will have the much-needed opportunity to rest and recover.

We offer a free consultation, so please call our law office in Oakland, California, to speak with a member of our team today.

Testimonials

This is a family owned business and extremely friendly. The whole crew is very profession and reputable. They are highly knowledgeable in their trade and bring a top level of expertise to any inquiry. I would highly recommend this Law firm. These are wonderful people and they will help you get the justice you deserve.

The staff are professional, responsive, and passionate about their clients. Highly recommend this law firm.

There's this thing about lawyers ... they often forget the first word in their title, Counselor at Law. Well, Margo Cutter practices the full spectrum of her profession. Though she has not represented me in litigation, I have benefited from her kind support and sound counsel regarding a traumatic injury I sustained due the negligence of others and the subsequent unbearable pursuit for justice. Thank you, Margo.

Their people were professional, thorough, and expressed true consideration in their deliverance. I highly recommend them to anyone.

CL took on my personal injury injury case without me needing to put in a retainer fee all while making sure I was prepared and on time for my court dates. You can always try submitting a case evaluation to see if they are the right attorneys for you before committing.

Our Office Location

Oakland Office
Cutter Law P.C.
1999 Harrison Street Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612