One in every four drivers in California is uninsured. On top of that, California experiences the highest number of automobile accidents every year. Therefore, almost 25% of all car accidents in California involve an uninsured motorist, an even higher percentage of car accidents account for underinsured motorists. Furthermore, in 2009 alone, over 70,000 pedestrians were injured in a motor vehicle accident. By combining these two statistics, it is almost inevitable that at one point or another, a pedestrian can be seriously injured or killed by an uninsured motorist. However, even if you are in this situation, you may be able to make a claim under your auto policy even if the accident has nothing to do with your own vehicle.
Auto insurance companies often try to defer as much responsibility in car accidents, leaving innocent individuals paying for many of their expenses out of pocket. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, then even as a pedestrian, you may recover full monetary expenses if the driver was at fault in the accident. Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) can be overlooked by some insurance companies, and often times, very complicated to deal with. Therefore, a car accident lawyer with knowledge in the subject can provide you with the help you need to make a claim against your insurance to recover damages as a pedestrian.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) covers you, the insured member, for bodily/personal injuries, damages, or death caused by an at-fault uninsured or hit-and-run driver. Often times, pedestrians become victims in serious car accidents which leave them dealing with severe physical injuries, and sometimes permanent disfiguration or even wrongful being killed. However, an experienced car accident attorney can help you negotiate the fairest settlements given the circumstances if your auto insurance includes UM coverage. Simply stated, uninsured motorist coverage allows a person who is injured by the negligence of an uninsured driver to recover monetary compensation under their own insurance policy (as well as with respective health care plans).
With underinsured motorists, if the driver at fault is underinsured, then coverage typically pays any difference between what the driver’s insurance covers and what your bodily injury coverage will pay. However, if the limits you purchase with UM or UNDUM coverage is lower than an accident’s costs, you’ll be responsible for paying the amounts of your limit, unless covered by health insurance.
Many times, monetary damages may have to cover medical bills, wage loss, future physical therapy, and other unforeseen costs as a result of the accident.
If you are a pedestrian who has been in involved in an accident with a car, for any additional information or questions regarding uninsured motorists or insurance coverage, please contact California car accident lawyer Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates. Please call 1-800-300-0001 or visit his website at www.ledgerlaw.com.
