California has strict insurance requirements that must be satisfied before a driver can hit the road. However, compliance with insurance regulations has declined across the nation in recent years, thanks in large part to the rising costs of policies and increases in what drivers have to pay to meet statutory requirements.
For instance, California increased minimum insurance requirements for drivers in 2025 which, in turn, will increase a driver’s premiums. If drivers can’t afford insurance but still need to drive to get to work or take care of their children, some will choose to be uninsured. In fact, roughly 17 percent of California drivers make this decision every year.
Since California follows a fault-based insurance system, this can leave crash victims in Sacramento struggling to get money for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages when an uninsured driver causes a car accident.
If you’ve been involved in an uninsured motorist accident in Sacramento, California, don’t hesitate to call the top-rated team at Singleton Schreiber. You shouldn’t have to struggle with the consequences of someone else’s mistakes on your own. Our award-winning Sacramento car accident lawyers can help you explore your options and work to obtain the money you’ll need to move forward with your life.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our Sacramento law office today.
How Do I Get Compensation After an Accident With an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver in Sacramento?
Sacramento ranks fifth in the state of California for uninsured motorists. So, if you get into a car accident in Sacramento, there’s a decent chance that the driver won’t have insurance. Alternatively, given the high costs of insurance, there’s a chance that the at-fault driver will only have the minimum coverage required by law and that those benefits won’t be nearly enough to cover your crash-related damages.
This is where Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) can be incredibly beneficial.
California insurance companies are legally required to offer UM and UIM coverage when a motorist purchases a car insurance policy. Each serves a different purpose.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: covers the costs of a car accident that’s caused by a driver who is uninsured at the time of the wreck
- Underinsured Motorist Coverage: makes up the difference between what the at-fault driver’s policy will cover and the actual costs of your damages (up to your own UIM policy’s limits)
UM coverage, which can also be utilized in a hit and run scenario, essentially takes the place of the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. In California, typical UM benefits cover a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury and $15,000 in property damage (UMPD). You can purchase higher limits at your discretion.
When you’re involved in an accident with a driver who lacks necessary insurance coverage, you’ll file a claim with your insurance company to recover benefits from your Uninsured Motorist policy. If your damages are greater than what your UM policy limits, you can seek additional compensation through a civil lawsuit filed against the uninsured driver or another liable party.
In California, liability is proportionate to fault. So, if someone other than the uninsured motorist contributed to your Sacramento car accident, you can seek a percentage of your damages from them.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover From My Uninsured Motorist Policy?
Uninsured Motorist policies include two subsets of benefits: bodily injury (UMBI) and property damage (UMPD).
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury can help you recover compensation for things like:
- Current and future medical expenses, including those related to hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic tests, medication, and medical devices
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage can help you pay for necessary vehicle repairs (up to its actual cash value) or the purchase of a new car if yours is totaled in the wreck.
How Does Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work?
Many drivers decide to buy the bare minimum when getting car insurance. However, if they cause an accident in which another party is catastrophically injured, it’s possible the minimum insurance requirements - currently $30,000/$60,000 in bodily injury and $15,000 in property damage - won’t be enough to cover the victim’s full costs.
When you add UIM to your policy, it can be used to help you make up the difference. For example, let’s say you have $60,000 in medical bills after a serious car accident in Sacramento. The at-fault driver’s policy only includes $30,000 in bodily injury coverage. If you purchased UIM at its minimum rate, you can file a claim to recover the additional $30,000 from your insurance carrier. As a result, all of your medical bills will be covered.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Sacramento After an Accident With an Uninsured Motorist?
Even though you’re dealing with your own insurance company, their interests won’t be aligned with yours. They’ll have a legal obligation to handle your claim in good faith, meaning that the adjuster has to make a genuine effort to resolve your claim fairly. However, insurance adjusters are notorious for trying to find ways to manipulate claimants and find ways to limit or deny claims - including those filed by the policyholders themselves.
Hiring an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney to represent you can make a world of difference in how your UM/UIM claim is resolved. Choosing Singleton Schreiber as your advocate can help you maximize your recovery.
Singleton Schreiber is an award-winning personal injury law firm with decades of experience taking on powerful insurance companies on behalf of injury victims and families in California. As local lawyers working with national resources, we’ve recovered over $3 Billion for our clients.
When you trust us to help you pursue compensation after an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist in Sacramento, we’ll do everything in our power to make things right for you. Better days are ahead, and we’re determined to help you find them.
Contact our Sacramento, CA, law office to learn more. There’s no charge for your initial case review.
