Uninsured Motorists

South Bay personal injury lawyers Vernon C. Krol and Ronald C. Koerner represent clients who have been injured by uninsured motorists on the roads in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California.

California Insurance Requirements

All drivers in California are required by law to carry liability insurance (or other proof of financial responsibility) with limits of at least 15/30/15, meaning that the insurance must pay up to $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $5,000 for property damage.  The purpose of liability insurance is to pay for injuries or damages caused to another by the insured driver.  Obviously, the statutory minimums will not go very far toward compensating a victim of a serious accident, and drivers who can afford the premiums are smart to carry higher liability limits.  When policy limits are not sufficient to compensate accident victims, the at-fault driver may be personally liable for the balance.

Over 20 Percent of California Drivers are Uninsured

Regardless of the fact that the law requires liability insurance, over 20% of California drivers do not carry it, and that rate is significantly higher in Los Angeles.  Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is one way to protect against being injured by these drivers.  If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your own insurance company will pay for your injuries and property damage suffered at the hands of an uninsured motorist, up to the limits of the coverage you have selected.  Underinsured motorist coverage would help offset the situation described above, where the driver has only minimum liability, and the damage caused exceeds those limits.  However, while California law requires all insurance companies to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, the law does not require all drivers to purchase it.  Many drivers decline this coverage when selecting their insurance policy in order to save money on premiums.

What happens when you are injured by an uninsured motorist, and you do not carry any uninsured motorist coverage?  The same thing as if you are injured by an insured motorist, and your injuries exceed the limits of the driver's insurance policy.  You must bring a lawsuit against the driver in order to fully recover for the damage caused by the driver's negligence.  However, here you are faced with the uncertainty of any legal outcome, and the difficulty in enforcing a judgment once you obtain it.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

Even if your damages can be satisfied within the policy limits of an insured driver, you may still have difficulty recovering your total claim from the insurance company.  It is in the insurance company's financial interest to pay as little as possible, or to deny the claim if it can.  Whether you are negotiating with an insurance company or litigating in court, an experienced personal injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset to receiving the recovery you deserve.  The attorneys at the Law Offices of Vernon C. Krol & Ronald C. Koerner have nearly 60 years combined experience handling personal injury lawsuits on behalf of injured victims.  If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by an uninsured motorist, contact the attorneys at Vernon C. Krol & Ronald C. Koerner for an initial consultation.