Drivers in California have to carry liability insurance on their vehicles. After all, if someone loses control for even a few moments, they could cause a crash that demolishes someone else’s vehicle or kills somebody.
State law requires that all drivers carry a combination of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Quite a few drivers invest in substantially more insurance than the state requires because they recognize that a severe injury or a totaled vehicle will cost quite a bit more than what a bare-bones insurance policy will pay.
Unfortunately, there are also drivers who take the opposite approach, rejecting the obligation to carry insurance and instead allowing their policies to lapse. They drive around without insurance, putting themselves and everyone else at massive financial risk. What are the chances if you get into a crash that the other driver will not have the appropriate insurance?
California has a high number of uninsured drivers
When you look at the insurance requirements in other states, you will quickly realize that California actually has relatively low mandatory Insurance amounts. Despite low requirements, there are still thousands of drivers who do not comply with the law. California is actually one of the worst states in the country in terms of uninsured motorists.
Researchers estimate that at least 16.6% of California drivers are uninsured based on 2019 data, which means California holds 10th place on the list of states with the most uninsured drivers. If you encounter one of these irresponsible drivers on the road, you won’t be able to claim coverage from their insurance policy as you usually could.
What protects you from uninsured drivers?
The most effective way to protect yourself from an uninsured motorist is to add special coverage to your own policy. Uninsured motorist protection, as well as collision and comprehensive coverage, can help pay your expenses when the driver to blame for your crash cannot provide you with insurance coverage.
Unfortunately, some drivers don’t recognize the value of such coverage until they need it, and then it will be too late to add such protection to their policies. If you do not have uninsured motorist protection on your own policy, then the best option for you will likely involve taking the other driver to court or looking into whether there are any third parties with partial responsibility for the crash.
Learning more about how to secure car wreck compensation can help you minimize your crash-related financial losses.
