Why California Drivers Need UM and UIM Insurance Coverage
Why Is So important To Have Good Amount of Insurance Coverage
Who likes to pay insurance when there’s some probability of not using it at all?
Well, the main question is: what happens if I am involved in an accident, need medical treatment, and the cost is greater than the minimum coverage required by law in California? That is a probability.
Beginning January 1, 2025, California drivers are required to carry minimum liability limits for auto insurance policies: $30,000 for personal injury for one person, $60,000 if multiple people are injured, and $15,000 for property damage (California Vehicle Code Section 16056(a)(2)
Let’s face it —is $30,000, enough to compensate you when you are driving diligently and get rear-ended?The answer is clear when you have experience with collisions.
Let’s explain what he result of a minor rear-end collision would be in the best-case scenario:
There’s a high probability that after an impact, your neck and back are going to hurt. Taking care of those injuries would require a primary care physician or urgent care visit, chiropractic treatment, and/or physical therapy services.
$30,000 could cover some medical bills, but would not offer enough compensation for the general damages you might suffer.(General damages are considered as the pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other subjective forms of detriment that are not directly quantifiable.)
How Can I Protect Myself?
Your own insurance can respond if the person that was at fault has minimum insurance coverage and it is not enough for all the medical treatment that I might need —that is called underinsurance coverage (UIM). Another scenario is uninsured coverage (UM) which applies when the person at fault does not have insurance or left the scene.
How Much UM/UIM Insurance Coverage is Needed?
These two coverages options are offered equal to or lower to body injury liability limits. The key is to understand why UM/UIM exists —it is to protect us from the different scenarios:
- If I am liable for an accident and the injured person’s medical treatment costs exceed the minimum required by law, my personal assets are not in jeopardy.
- If the person that hit me does not have insurance, does not have enough insurance, or was a hit and run, I would be covered because I chose an adequate amount of UM/UIM coverage.
Accidents happen, and rear-ended collisions are common. The reality is that after a car accident, people go to emergency rooms, suffer serious injuries, become disable, and tragically, collisions result in death.
Having the Right Amount of Insurance Coverage Matters More Than You Think.
There is a hidden cost of being underinsured, whether you are injured or not.
Once you see yourself involved in a collision, you need to be aware of different facts:
- If you are injured
- If others are injured due to the collision
- If your vehicle has damages
- If the vehicle of other people involved are damaged.
After being conscious of these facts choosing the best insurance, UM/UIM coverage won’t be excessive.
The value of paying a premium for coverage that can cover an emergency room visit, therapy to relieve physical pain, visits to specialist physicians becomes clear when you receive all needed medical treatment and can also receive monetary compensation for what you endured after the accident.
$100,000.00, $300,000.00, or higher for your UM/UIM coverage is never excessive when you understand what can happen in an accident.
If you were injured in a California car crash and insurance coverage has become an issue, Dolan Law Firm can help you understand your rights and available options. Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in car crashes, hit and run collisions, rear end collisions, and crashes involving uninsured or underinsured drivers. Contact us today for a free consultation or Dial #4HELP.