Phone: 619-432-5145
Phone: 619-432-5145
CAR ACCIDENT – Minimum Liability Insurance is Not Enough.
February 08, 2019
Minimum Liability Insurance is not enough. Often times in our practice we see clients whom sustained critical injuries in a collision, however the at-fault driver was only carrying the California Minimum Liability Insurance of $15,000; or worse yet the at-fault driver is completely uninsured. In such instances a good comprehensive insurance policy that includes Med Pay and UM/UIM coverage, is necessary in order to compensate the clients for their injuries.
If you own a vehicle in California, California Insurance Code § 11580.1(b) requires that you maintain Liability Insurance with minimum coverage of:
This Liability Insurance is not meant to protect you as a driver; rather it is for the benefit of other parties involved in a collision.
This is the link to the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles explaining the Financial Responsibility (Insurance) Requirements for Vehicle Registration (FFVR 18)
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr18
| Type of Insurance | WHO does it Cover? | WHAT does it Cover? |
| Liability Insurance | Other/Non-Policyholder
|
Liability insurance compensates a person other than the policyholder for personal injury or property damage. This could be the cost of medical care for people injured in an accident or the repair cost of damage to other vehicles. |
| Medical Payment
(Med Pay) |
Policyholder | Medical Payments (often called Med Pay) covers the medical payments of all passengers in the policyholder’s vehicle if they are injured in an accident. Med Pay will cover the medical costs resulting from an auto accident, regardless of who was at fault. |
| Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
(UM/UIM) |
Policyholder | Uninsured motorist coverage protects the policyholder if the holder is in an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t carry liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, steps in when the policyholder is in an accident with an at-fault driver whose liability limits are too low to cover the damage or medical expenses |
| Physical Damage Coverage | Policyholder’s Vehicle | Automobile insurance coverage that insures against damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle. Coverage is provided for perils such as collision, vandalism, theft, fire etc… |
If you or a loved one have questions about your auto policy and what type of coverage you are carrying, we invite you to call us today at 619-432-5145 for a free consultation with one of our experienced San Diego accident attorneys.