San Fernando Uninsured Motorist Lawyer

Most motorists know what they should do when a car accident occurs. However, if another driver has no insurance or ends up having far too little coverage to compensate you for damages resulting from the crash, your usual post-accident procedure goes out the window. You may be confused about how to get your car repaired, what to do about your medical bills, or where to turn for help. The experienced San Fernando uninsured motorist lawyers at Walch Law are here to help you navigate the legal process of fighting for compensation, deal with evasive, underhanded insurance companies, and get the check and closure you deserve. Contact us today to see how Robert and Gary’s 40 plus years of experience with a 95+% success rate can help you get the justice you deserve.

In California, all drivers must carry car insurance in no less than the current amount required by law. Today, that means you must have at least:

• $15,000 bodily injury coverage
• $30,000 total liability coverage per accident

A violation can mean hefty fines, costly fees to recover your vehicle, or even driver license suspension.

If you’re cited for no insurance, you could receive a $100-200 fine for a first offense or a $200-500 fine for a second offense. It may seem small, but after mandatory fees are added you could end up paying nearly $450 on a $100 fine.

The officer citing you for no insurance also has the power to tow your car. To get it back, you’ll have to the fees incurred for towing and storage as well as secure a compliant level of car insurance. Proof of insurance will have to be presented before the car is released.

The DMV has the power to suspend your driver license for up to 4 years if you have no insurance and are involved in an accident – even if the accident wasn’t your fault.

Despite the severity of these consequences, close to 1 in 8 United States motorists chose to drive with no insurance. For drivers in San Fernando, this means that anyone you encounter city streets or pass on nearby freeways like the 5, 405, 118, or 210 could very well be uninsured. These drivers are human; they make mistakes behind the wheel like everyone else can. However, if they behave unsafely and increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries, dealing with the aftermath of a crash could fall to you.

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in case the at-fault driver responsible for your wreck has no car insurance. Your insurance company will step in and pay at least some of the damages the other driver’s insurance company should have paid if they had been insured. In many cases, under this coverage your insurance company will pay for damages where you were not able to determine if the other motorist had coverage, such as a hit-and-run.

California has no requirement drivers keep uninsured motorist coverage, but all insurance companies must offer it when you are purchasing a new insurance policy. You must sign a waiver indicating it was offered to you if you choose to decline the coverage. Generally, these policies cover:

• Medical expenses incurred by you as well as your passengers
• Up to $3,500 in property damage not covered by your auto insurance policy’s collision coverage

Though most California drivers make a good faith effort to follow the law and carry proper insurance, many have coverage levels that are distressingly inadequate if an accident occurs. In contrast to the minimum coverage requirements, insurance experts recommend you keep at least:

• $100,000 bodily injury coverage per person
• $300,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
• $100,000 property damage coverage

Even minor collisions can cause thousands in damages – accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries, permanent disability, or requiring a lifetime of medical care can easily incur hundreds of thousand in damages. There is no way someone with minimum coverage will have adequate insurance to handle damages from a serious accident.

Scenarios such as this are the reason underinsured motorist coverage is a valuable asset for drivers. If you carry it, your insurance company pays some or all of the damages to you and your vehicle that exceed the coverage provided under the uninsured motorist’s policy.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident involving driver without the necessary insurance coverage to pay for your damages, you may be worried about paying for expensive medical bills, repairing your car, and getting back on your feet. In cases like this, you may think that hiring a lawyer is out of reach. However, the skilled San Fernando uninsured motorist lawyers at Walch Law want you to know we believe everyone should be able to pursue that compensation they deserve; that’s why we agree to take every case on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay us until you get paid first. From the moment we’re hired, we’ll work hard to get you the check you deserve as quickly as possible. Reach out today to learn more about the process and get started!