A major problem in California is a lack of adequate insurance coverage.
Motor vehicle insurance provides you with protection and peace of mind so that you don’t have to perseverate about the risks involved with driving. After all, you could cause massive damage to someone’s property or leave someone with a permanent injury after making even a simple mistake at the wheel. You could also end up hurt because of someone else’s mistake.
Insurance protects you against both possibilities by limiting your liability in the event of a crash for which you are at fault and protecting you from financial losses if another driver is responsible for causing a collision that affects you.
You may trust that insurance will take care of you after a crash, but that isn’t always what happens. You could end up involved in a wreck caused by a driver without insurance or someone with too little insurance, which is a frequent issue in California. There are many drivers on the road who have insurance, but only what state law requires.
California insurance requirements are low
Drivers in California can carry as little as just $5,000 worth of property damage liability coverage. $5,000 won’t be enough to repair significant damage to a vehicle, let alone pay for a new car. Even when collisions only cause property damage, drivers frequently find that the coverage available isn’t enough.
When there are injuries involved as well, the insurance shortfall may be even more serious. The state does require more personal injury liability coverage, but $15,000 to cover one person’s injuries still isn’t very much when compared the cost of a lengthy hospitalization or a lifetime of lost income. Many drivers in California only carry what the law requires instead of investing in better coverage to protect themselves and others.
Speak with an insurance agent about additional coverages including:
- Medical payment (MedPay) coverage;
- Uninsured motorist coverage; and
- Gap coverage.
How this information can help drivers
When drivers understand the concerning limitations of current insurance requirements in California, they may better understand why it is so important to look into supplemental coverage for their own protection. Uninsured and under-insured motorist protection on your own policy or collision coverage could help you pay for expenses after a crash with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have much coverage.
Drivers who recognize the limitations of insurance will also be in a better position to take legal action after a crash. Reviewing your insurance coverage before you get into a motor vehicle collision could help you protect yourself in case you do ever experience one.
This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm, a full-service personal injury attorney and accident lawyer. We represent clients all throughout California and Los Angeles County, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, Newhall, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
We can be reached at (661) 270-5677.
This article is meant for informational purposes only.