Posted on Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 at 2:30 am    

All drivers in California are required to maintain minimum liability coverage. However, many drivers do not obey the law. If an uninsured driver causes your car accident, you could end up with thousands of dollars in financial losses and damages that you must pay. You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the uninsured driver, but you might only get a worthless paper judgment that you will never be able to collect.

However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages through your insurance company.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover?

Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance is an optional insurance coverage you can purchase with your liability insurance policy. The premiums for UM policies are usually very low, so it is wise to purchase at least some UM coverage.

When an uninsured driver injures you, you can file a claim for damages against your UM coverage. You should be able to receive compensation that you could receive if the at-fault driver had liability insurance coverage. Damages in your UM claim include:

  • Past and future cost of medical care
  • Past and future personal care expenses
  • Past and future loss of income and benefits
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Disability and impairment
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Other out-of-pocket expenses and costs

The value of your claim depends on the facts of your case. Your insurance company is only liable up to your policy limits, so consider high limits to provide the best protection against accidents caused by uninsured motorists.

How Do I File an Uninsured Motorist Claim?

The process of filing a UM claim is the same as filing an insurance claim against the other driver. You notify your insurance company of the accident and open a claim. The company assigns a claims adjuster to investigate the accident and value the claim. If the adjuster agrees that the company is liable, the adjuster calculates the value of the claim and makes you an offer. You can either accept or reject the offer of settlement.
Unfortunately, this overly-simplified version of filing an uninsured motorist claim is the exception instead of the rule.

Consider the following:

  • Your insurance company is the same as all other insurance companies – it is in business to make a profit. Therefore, it wants to pay as little as possible to settle your claim.
  • Your claim is treated as any other claim. Therefore, the adjuster may use unfair insurance tactics to undervalue or deny your insurance claim.
  • You are not working with our insurance agent, so the care and concern you may be accustomed to receiving when you pay your insurance premiums may not be present.
  • To recover compensation, you must prove that the other driver caused the accident. If the insurance company believes it can blame you for the crash to get out of paying a claim, it will probably do so.

Even though you are dealing with your insurance provider for a UM claim, the same advice applies. You should talk to a car accident attorney as soon as possible about your claim. Learn about your legal rights and your options from a trusted legal advocate for accident victims. Do not agree to provide a statement, sign documents, or discuss the claim in detail until you speak with an attorney.

Protect Your Legal Rights by Calling a Sacramento Accident Lawyer for Help

If you have questions or want to discuss your claim further, call (916) 999-9000 now for a free consultation with one of our Sacramento accident lawyers.

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From the very start of my case the Tiemann Law Firm was wonderful. Perter came all the way to my home to sit down and talk to me about my options. He made me and my partner feel very comfortable and promised us he would take the very best care of my case. Peter kept me informed every step of the way and was always on top of things. everything was done in a timely manor and I always felt like I was the only case he was working on because he was so fast. In the end Peter got me back way more money than I ever expected. I would recommend this law firm to everyone. I am very happy with the outcome of my case thanks to the Tiemann Law Firm! Thank you!

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It is hard to put into words the care and dedication that I received from the Tiemann’s. They have been here for me every step of the way and were always available when I had questions or concerns. My husband and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done for us and our family. Thank you so much for all of the hard work and time you have put into my case, we greatly appreciate it and your friendship. We highly recommend this firm and will always be thankful for everything they have done. Thank you so much again, Kim

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I just saw my lawyer Jelena Tiemann on a t.v ad, which reminded me how much she helped when I was in a desperate situation. I just love her! That is why I feel a need to tell everyone. I had a situation that happened & didn’t know what to do, our where to go. I didn’t even know if she could help me or if any lawyer could. All I wanted was it to go away & was afraid most lawyers wanted to drag it out & possibly go to court. For one she was very professional but was very personable (maybe b.c she’s a lady). She didn’t make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious that I did something wrong or was the cause of the situation. She immediately said we should try our best before going to court. Let me handle some paperwork, if at the last we do go to court we have documents. She gave me all the details, pros and cons but reassured me she deals with these cases all the time. She came through and made it as painless as possible. I now have my life back.

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Tiemann Law Firm helped us with an injury case for my nephew. They were very knowledgeable and we are very happy with the service they provided. The entire staff is topnotch!

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I chose Tiemann Law Firm to help me after a car accident I was involved in. Throughout the entire process, Moe made sure to keep me updated, he always responded quickly whenever  I had questions about anything. My case won thanks to this law firm and its dedication. My experience with Tiemann Law Firm was amazing! 10/10 recommended.