Sacramento Uninsured Car Accident Lawyers
After an accident with an uninsured driver, you may be able to recover uninsured motorist benefits or file a lawsuit against a negligent party. Our experienced Sacramento uninsured car accident lawyers can help you seek a full financial recovery.
Have you been injured in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver in Sacramento, California? Since California is an “at-fault” state when it comes to car insurance, this can cause a lot of headaches and stress.
Fortunately, an accident with an uninsured driver won’t necessarily stand between you and financial recovery. An experienced uninsured car accident lawyer at Cutter Law P.C. in Sacramento can help you fight for damages to cover the costs of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
Collectively, our award-winning Sacramento car accident attorneys have over 130 years of experience fighting for crash victims and families across the state. We are passionate about what we do, and our results are a testament to that. Our law firm has obtained over $100 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients like you.
Contact our Sacramento law office to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve the best results after a crash with an uninsured driver. We offer a free case evaluation and are here to take your call.
Quick Links
- Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in California
- How many drivers in California are uninsured?
- What is uninsured motorist coverage?
- What are my options if my UIM does not cover all my car accident damages?
- Does seeking damages after a car accident with an uninsured driver in Sacramento, California, have a time limit?
- Arrange a Time to Speak With an Experienced Sacramento Uninsured Car Accident Lawyer
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in California
All drivers in the state of California are legally required to have car insurance. It is not enough to buy any amount of insurance coverage you want. The state law has set minimums.
Minimum requirements for private passenger vehicle car insurance coverage in California include:
- Bodily Injury: $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
- Property Damage: $5,000 per accident
Drivers can also opt to have a cash deposit of $35,000 on file with the DMV or have proof of self-insurance to satisfy minimum requirements.
Insurance companies are required to report vehicle insurance information to the DMV. If the DMV discovers that a vehicle is uninsured, it will suspend its registration. It is illegal to drive an unregistered car in California.
How many drivers in California are uninsured?
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), California has the 10th-highest rate of uninsured drivers in the nation. In 2019, an estimated 16.6 percent of California drivers were uninsured (or underinsured).
With 25,532,920 registered motorists in the Golden State as of 2017, that means about 4.24 million drivers in California are uninsured.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is optional protection that you can add to your California car insurance policy.
If you get into an accident with an uninsured (or underinsured) driver, you can tap into these benefits to help offset crash-related costs. Uninsured coverage can usually even extend to you when you are injured as a bicyclist or pedestrian in Sacramento.
Your insurance company is legally required to offer it when you sign up for a policy. You have the right to decline, but you must do so in writing.
There are three types of uninsured motorist coverage available to drivers in California.
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI)
Uninsured motorist bodily injury protection offers coverage when another party causes an accident but doesn’t have insurance to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. UMBI can also be used if you are in an accident with a hit-and-run driver.
UMBI policies begin at $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident, but you are free to purchase higher coverage if you want.
UMBI should cover all your damages related to your accident, except for the cost of replacing or repairing property damage. That means your insurance company should cover the costs related to present and future medical bills, loss of income, reduced earning capacity, and emotional distress.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD)
UMBI might not cover the cost of property damage to your car, but uninsured motorist property damage coverage can. In California, UMPD is capped at $3,500.
You can’t use UMPD in hit-and-run accident cases where the at-fault driver has not been identified.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM)
Underinsured motorist coverage offers protection when a driver has insurance but not enough to cover all your damages. For instance, if the driver of the other car has minimum coverage, you will have $15,000 to put toward medical bills.
If you have suffered serious injuries, the costs of your medical treatment and your lost wages while you recover will likely be much more than $15,000. If you purchased UIM coverage, you could use those benefits to cover additional costs.
$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.
What are my options if my UIM does not cover all my car accident damages?
What happens if UIM is not enough to cover all of your crash-related costs? Or, what if you didn’t add uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to your policy when you bought insurance?
While insurance is the primary source of compensation after an auto accident in California, it is not your only remedy.
You Can File a Lawsuit Against the Uninsured Driver
You always have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver and attempting to recover compensation from them personally. However, if they didn’t have insurance, they likely won’t have the assets or resources necessary to pay your damages, even if you win your case.
You Can File a Lawsuit Against Another Negligent Party (or Submit a Claim With Their Insurer)
Accidents can be complex, and in some cases, more than one party contributes to a wreck. Under California’s pure comparative fault rule, liability is apportioned based on fault. The more fault you are assigned, the greater your responsibility when it comes to paying damages.
So, you can also potentially file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a third party for their share of the damages. Other potentially liable parties could include:
- Other motorists
- Motorcyclists
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Employers of negligent parties
- Property owners
- Government agencies
- Vehicle manufacturers
If someone shares even 10 percent of the blame for your accident, you can seek recovery of 10 percent of your damages from them. While it might not cover everything, it can offset some of the financial burden of your crash.
Does seeking damages after a car accident with an uninsured driver in Sacramento, California, have a time limit?
Yes. Under California law, you will have two years from the date of your accident to (a) submit a claim for uninsured motorist benefits with your insurance carrier or (b) file a personal injury lawsuit.
While there may be limited exceptions to this statute of limitations, they are few and far between. Ultimately, you must meet the deadline that applies to your case. The best way to protect your rights is by seeking the help of a qualified Sacramento uninsured car accident attorney near you.
At Cutter Law, our attorneys can identify time restraints that apply to your case and put a plan into action to get you the money you deserve.
Arrange a Time to Speak With an Experienced Sacramento Uninsured Car Accident Lawyer
Whether you have been in a hit-and-run car accident or rear-ended by a driver without insurance, you have options to get compensation for your injuries and suffering. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can submit a claim with your insurance carrier. If you do not have UM coverage, you still have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages.
You could even do both if you have UM, but UM limits are not likely high enough to cover the full costs of your crash.
The award-winning Sacramento uninsured car accident lawyers at Cutter Law P.C. can help exhaust all your options for financial recovery. Contact our law office, conveniently located in Sacramento, California, for a free consultation today.
Testimonials
Schedule A Free Case Review
"*" indicates required fields
Our Office Locations
Sacramento Office
401 Watt Avenue Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: 916-290-9400
Oakland Office
Cutter Law P.C.
1999 Harrison Street Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
Car Accident Topics
- Can You Get Compensation if the Accident Was Your Fault?
- What Happens If the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
- Should You Speak to the Other Driver's Insurance Company?
- How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim?
- Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
- How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim
- What to Do When You're Not at Fault?
- Who Pays for Medical Bills?
