California Uninsured Motorist Claim: Rates & What to Know (GJEL Accident Attorneys)
- File a Claim with Confidence: Protect Your Rights After an Accident.
- California Law Protects You From Rate Hikes.
- Free Consultation: Maximize Your Recovery with Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
Read the full article for a California personal injury attorney’s in-depth explanation of uninsured motorist claims and why California law protects you from rate increases. Learn how GJEL Accident Attorneys can help you file your claim and maximize your recovery.
Despite the requirement that all drivers in the state of California have liability insurance or show proof of financial responsibility, many people in the state do not carry insurance for various reason. In fact, a lack of insurance is so common that one source suggests that 4.1 million California drivers are uninsured. The fact that there are some many people driving around without proper insurance coverage is one of the primary reasons that carrying uninsured motorist coverage is a very wise idea.
Car Accidents with Uninsured Drivers
Very often, about 15 percent of the accidents in California involve someone who was uninsured. So if you are one of those people where you were injured in an accident that’s caused by an uninsured motorist, you can use your own uninsured motorist insurance coverage to make a claim with your own company. We can represent you on that. Your uninsured motorist coverage can be used to pay for your property damage or physical injuries anytime you are involved in an accident with another driver who should be liable for your damages, but does not have insurance, or does not have enough insurance to pay for your losses.
Does Filing a Claim with My Insurance Company Increase My Rates?
Many people are concerned that their insurance rates are going to go up or that they’re going to be dropped by their insurance company as a result of making an uninsured motorist claim. This is because when you cause an accident and have to make a claim to pay for damages caused to other people, your rates typically do increase.
However, under California’s proposition 103, insurance companies are not allowed to raise rates or drop a person because they made an uninsured motorist claim. This means that if you make a claim under your policy’s uninsured motorist coverage, you cannot be penalized, and the insurance company cannot take any negative actions against you as such.
So, it is a legitimate concern and I would be concerned myself, but I know from many years of practice and the law that these things don’t happen and nothing bad happens to you with your insurance company as the result of an uninsured motorist claim.
Representing You In Discussions with Your Insurance Company
While your insurance company may not legally be allowed to penalize you for filing an uninsured motorist claim, filing a claim can still be intimidating. What’s more, just because you file a claim does not mean that the insurance company has to approve your claim, nor does it mean that they have to offer you the amount of compensation you demand. In fact, insurance companies often low-ball settlement offers, hoping that you will just accept the first settlement offer and drop your claim, happy to have some cash to pay your medical bills.
We know how insurance adjusters think, and we know that how insurance adjusters act is not always within your best interests. This is why we highly recommend that you hire an experienced car accident attorney, like the ones found at the offices of GJEL Accident Attorneys, to represent you in discussions with your insurance company and ensure that your rights are protected. We can not only help you to file your uninsured motorist claim, but we will also aid you in proving injuries, and negotiating for a fair settlement amount. If your insurance company does take action against you (which again, they are not legally allowed to do), we will quickly act in your best interests to advise you of your rights and actions to take next.
Car Insurance Settlement Offer Too Low? Contact Us for Help
Being hit by someone who doesn’t carry insurance is scary. Luckily, if you carry uninsured motorist coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurance company, get a settlement amount you need, and not have to worry about your rates increasing. To learn more about how our attorneys can help, call us today or send us a message online.
Written by Andy Gillin. Last Updated 04/15/2024