When Insurance Doesn’t Cover the Costs of an Accident
California demands that all drivers on the road have a minimum amount of insurance for liability. That liability coverage is to pay for any damage they do as a driver. Unfortunately, the minimum insurance requirements aren’t very high. If a California driver only has the minimum insurance, the policy only covers a maximum of $30,000 for medical bills (half that if only one person is hurt) and just $5,000 for damage to property like your car.
If a driver with minimum insurance is responsible for a serious car accident, the money from the insurance policy can disappear quickly. $5,000 won’t cover much repair work on a car and $15,000 can be used up on medical bills within a few hours of the accident.
Once that money is gone, you will need a lawyer to help you get any more money out of the driver who caused the accident. While some people carry insurance on their own policy to cover for under-insured drivers, most people need a lawyer to recover any money for remaining car repairs and unpaid medical bills.
Although insurance companies are supposed to vigorously defend their clients, doing so can cost the company thousands of dollars. Frequently insurance companies pressure people into taking settlements before a good lawyer can review the case.
If someone hit you in his or her car and didn’t have enough insurance to pay for the damages, contact a personal injury lawyer right away.
