Los Angeles Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawyer

Driving, especially in car-choked L.A., is often an adventure and can be deadly. That’s why you’re required to carry a certain amount of liability insurance. If not for these insurance laws, which are found in nearly all states, some people would decide to skip out on insurance and take their chances.

But guess what? People still drive around without insurance all the time. Imagine driving to your favorite surf spot at Venice Beach without a care in the world when someone suddenly slams into your fender after running a red light. Not only is your afternoon ruined, but you’re injured and find out the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance. Does that mean you’re left holding the bag? Not exactly, but these types of claims are trickier to handle.

It’s important to understand how uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance works, challenges that are unique to uninsured motorist claims, and common types of auto accident injury claims. If you find yourself in such a predicament, you’ll want to work with the highly successful Los Angeles uninsured motorist lawyers at Walch Law.

Failure to carry adequate insurance coverage (or failing to carry any insurance at all) is taken very seriously and can lead to heavy fines and even the impoundment of your vehicle. If you’re uninsured (or underinsured) and cause an accident, the California DMV reserves the right to suspend your license for as many as four years.

This is why you’re also required to carry coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists. Fact is, not everyone follows the law and some people may fail to renew their policies on time (which is the same as not having coverage at all). So, while your day of surfing (and perhaps for a while) won’t be happening, at least your own insurance company has your covered for the most part (more on that later).

California law requires to carry the following policies for injuries and property damage caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist:

• Bodily injury: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident minimum
• Property damage: $3,500 minimum (may be waived if rejected in writing)

Let’s get right to the point: no insurance company wants to pay out a high settlement for injuries or property damage, not even yours. It’s their prerogative (and in fact their business model) to turn a profit by keeping payouts low and settling claims quickly. So even though you’ve paid your insurance on time and have the right amount of uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage, they’re not motivated to write a fat check. And until you meet with your Los Angeles uninsured motorist lawyer, you may not have a complete picture of what your claim is really worth.

In addition, California law allows insurers to deduct any amount paid out-of-pocket by the at-fault driver (or, if they’re underinsured, by their insurance company). Therefore, if your claim is for $250,000 and the other party’s insurer maxes out at $50,000—leaving a balance of $200,000—your insurer may subtract the $50,000 you’ve already been paid and reimburse you just $150,000. It may seem unfair, but that’s the law.

Experienced accident attorneys understand this and will be able to work diligently to get you the monetary settlement you deserve.

When you attach a dollar amount to your injuries, bodily and otherwise, they’re referred to as damages. A claim for injury damages usually includes things like medical bills, medications, lost wages, and the cost of transportation to and from medical facilities.

Other damages may include (but are not limited to):

• Disfigurement
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished future earning potential
• Loss of consortium (intimacy and affection)

If you have a skilled Los Angeles uninsured motorist attorney on your side, you’ll have a better chance of putting together a solid claim and getting the highest amount possible for your settlement. Most claims are settled out of court, but must be approached as if they could be tried in court.

It’s going to take a while to get back to work, and back on the waves, without the additional burden of paying medical bills and scrambling to cover your bills. That’s why it’s so crucial to work with a top-tier attorney. Call the experts at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, a Law Corporation and get some peace of mind. The sooner you get in touch with us the sooner we can help get you the maximum amount for your no insurance car accident—give us a call today to learn more.