Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Insurance in the Bay Area

Uninsured motorist coverage is one of the most important protections available to Bay Area drivers. Offered as an add-on policy by virtually all auto insurance carriers, it typically covers your bodily injuries, your passengers' injuries, and damage to your vehicle in the event you are struck by a driver who carries no insurance or whose coverage is insufficient to compensate you fully for your losses.

While some states mandate this coverage, California does not. Even so, personal injury attorneys who practice in this region see firsthand why it is so critical. The number of uninsured and underinsured drivers in the Bay Area is at an all-time high, and the financial consequences of an accident with one of them can be severe.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is a Must in a High-Risk State

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), more than 15% of all drivers, roughly one in seven, are uninsured or underinsured. That figure has trended upward every year since 2017, reflecting a growing risk for all drivers on the road.

California's numbers are particularly concerning. The state ranks in the top five nationally for the highest rate of uninsured drivers, with approximately one in five California drivers carrying no auto insurance at all. That statistic has led U.S. & World News Report to designate California a "high-risk state" for the likelihood of being involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

Three Reasons Personal Injury Lawyers Advise Having a UM/UIM Policy

Beyond the straightforward risk of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, who may be unable to cover your medical or vehicle/collision-related expenses, there are three reasons personal injury attorneys advise every California driver to add UM/UIM coverage to their existing policy. The premium for this added protection is generally modest.

1. UM/UIM Coverage Picks Up Where Your Existing Coverage Leaves Off.

Standard liability insurance is often insufficient to cover the full extent of bodily injury and property damage in a serious accident. If the at-fault driver carries insurance, their policy applies first, and yours applies second. If they are underinsured, you may still face a shortfall: costs that exceed what either policy will pay.

If the driver who hits you carries no insurance at all, the situation becomes more acute. Medical bills and repair costs can be substantial, and without UM/UIM coverage, you may have no viable source of compensation to bridge the gap.

To understand your current coverage limits, review your policy's declarations page. It will show the maximum payout for each type of coverage you carry. A typical standard liability policy might look something like this:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person
• $50,000 total bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage per accident

Your declarations page will also reflect your deductible, the amount you pay out of pocket before your coverage applies. Deductibles are typically offered in $250 increments; the lower the deductible, the higher the monthly premium.

When viewed against the actual cost of medical care and auto body repair in the Bay Area today, these standard limits are strikingly low. Most personal injury and car accident attorneys would characterize a standard liability policy as functionally underinsured. We recommend reviewing your limits and increasing them to better reflect realistic accident costs in this region.

As a practical point of reference: if you have ever volunteered as a driver or chaperone for a school, athletic team, or youth organization, you have likely been asked to carry higher coverage limits as a condition of participation. Those minimums are set deliberately, to approximate realistic damages in the event of a serious accident, and they are a reasonable benchmark for your own coverage decisions.

For guidance on how much coverage is appropriate for your situation, we recommend contacting your insurance carrier.

2. UM/UIM Coverage Applies to Hit-and-Run Accidents, Even for Cyclists and Pedestrians

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit-and-run accidents resulting in serious injury or death are increasing, particularly in urban areas. A hit-and-run incident is defined as one in which at least one person involved in a crash flees the scene before offering any (or sufficient) information or aid to the other involved person(s) or fails to properly report the crash.

Uninsured motorist coverage applies in hit-and-run scenarios, because a driver who flees is treated the same as an uninsured motorist under most policies. Importantly, this protection is not limited to situations where you are in a vehicle. If you are struck while riding a bicycle or traveling on foot, your UM/UIM coverage will generally apply, provided you are not found to be at fault for the incident.

3. This Coverage Protects Your Passengers, Which Protects You

Even when another driver is at fault, you may find yourself facing a claim brought by your own passengers. This is more common than most people expect, and while it is rarely personal, it can feel that way. Carrying UM/UIM coverage gives your insurance carrier more to work with when addressing your passengers' damages, reducing your own exposure to litigation or limiting the amount you may ultimately be held liable for.

It is also worth noting that passengers involved in a car accident are routinely advised to seek counsel from a personal injury attorney. Injuries sustained in car accidents frequently have long-term consequences that are not fully apparent at the time of the collision, and may not be adequately covered by the driver's insurance alone. When we represent passengers, our goal is to ensure they receive compensation that accounts for both their current medical expenses and any projected costs associated with the lasting effects of their injuries.

Involved In an Accident Involving an Uninsured Motorist? Burneikis Law Can Help

Uninsured motorist coverage exists to fill the gaps that standard insurance policies leave behind, providing a critical layer of protection if you are involved in an accident with a driver who carries no insurance or whose coverage falls short of your actual damages. In most cases, adding UM/UIM coverage to your existing policy does not significantly increase your premium, and the protection it provides can be considerable.

If you are uncertain whether your current policy includes UM/UIM coverage, log in to your carrier's website and review your declarations page, or contact their customer service department to speak with a licensed agent.

If you have recently been injured in an accident involving an uninsured motorist, or you have been the victim of a hit-and-run, Burneikis Law is here to help. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you understand your options and determine whether representation makes sense for your situation. Our team handles the bulk of insurance communications on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery, and so that your interests are protected at every stage of the process.

Contact Burneikis Law to schedule a consultation.