A driver on a cellphone on Avenida De Los Arboles or a driver going too fast on Lynn Road might become a dangerous obstacle for local motorcyclists.
A collision will almost always leave a rider with some injuries, with sometimes devastating consequences. Victims can face massive doctor bills and lost time at work, and if an at-fault driver turns out to be uninsured, motorcyclists might edge closer to a financial disaster.
Riders can suddenly be responsible for all of the recovery costs for an accident that wasn’t their fault. Fortunately, motorcyclists with their own insurance coverage can still get help when a driver without insurance coverage is to blame.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Help After a Motorcycle Accident
According to the California Drivers’ Handbook, uninsured motorists in California who are discovered in the aftermath of a crash will face a stiff penalty. They face the prospect of losing their driving privileges for four years. A driving suspension can happen even if the suspect didn’t cause the accident.
All drivers in California are required to carry at least this basic amount of coverage:
- $30,000 for a single death or injury.
- $60,000 for death or injury to more than one person.
- $15,000 for property damage.
If you are struck by an uninsured driver, you could sue the driver. However, that’s likely not going to net much financial assistance for you from a person who can’t afford to pay car insurance premiums.
Thankfully, riders can turn to their own motorcycle accident coverage for help.
Uninsured Motorist(UM)/Underinsured Motorist (UIM) isn’t required by California Law. Yet, it’s included in most insurance policies. Motorcyclists would have to refuse it by submitting a written statement.
The coverage helps if you are struck by a reckless driver who isn’t insured. Motorcyclists are also at risk of getting injured by hit-and-run drivers. UM coverage provides a compensation option if a driver is never captured or identified.
Generally, your support limits would be the same as the basic policy limits that all motorists are required to carry (see the above list of basic coverage)
Uninsured motorist insurance can also help if you are struck by an uninsured driver while walking around town as a pedestrian or riding a bicycle.
It’s a good idea to have this coverage, especially in a place like California.
Submitting an Uninsured Driver Accident Claim
After authorities have confirmed that a driver had no insurance, motorcyclists would be free to file a UI claim with their own motorcycle insurance provider.
If a motorcycle accident victim didn’t have a lawyer working on the accident case, they’d need to submit these documents and this evidence, if possible:
- A copy of a police or CHP car accident report
- Photos from the scene of the accident
- Written or recorded testimony from witnesses
- Receipts for all medical care received
- Medical chart and testimony from doctors about injury prognosis, if necessary
- Paystubs showing how many weeks of pay have been lost by the motorcycle accident victim
Victims would submit these and other documents and then await a settlement offer from their insurance provider. Ideally, the settlement would be enough to cover all medical bills and lost income. Other factors should also increase the settlement check amount, like the pain the victim suffers for however long, and the emotional trauma inflicted during a difficult recovery and time spent unable to ride a motorcycle.
If a settlement doesn’t meet these requirements, victims should reject settlement offers and demand more. Unfortunately, this can be a complex negotiation process without the help of a skilled Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyer. An experienced negotiator knows the upper levels of insurance companies will pay to motorcycle accident victims and can hold out for this amount.
Uninsured Motorist Accident Dangers in Thousand Oaks
Getting hit by an uninsured driver on a busy route like Highway 101 in Ventura County may not be a big worry for your family. But according to insurance experts, it’s a huge problem in California.
The Insurance Information Institute (iii) finds that California is one of the worst places for uninsured drivers in the country. On the iii’s 2023 top ten list for states with an uninsured motorist problem, California ranks 8th. Our state has an estimated 20.4 % of drivers roaming local roads without coverage. That’s well over the national average of 15.4% of drivers.
Victims can endure serious injuries, be stuck in the hospital for weeks, only to find out the at-fault driver won’t be helping them with the costs that await recovering motorcycle victims. They may also have missed hours and hours of work time and have no way to keep up with normal costs, like the rent and motorcycle payments.
Fortunately, victims can often turn to their own insurance policies for assistance. And with a lawyer’s help, some injury cases can earn victims even more in support.
Do I Need a Lawyer’s Help After Getting Hit by an Uninsured Driver?
If your accident only involved motorcycle damage and/or minor injuries, you can probably trust your insurance company to provide adequate support to pay your bills. But if your injuries are more serious, and someone else was to blame, it’s a good idea to seek a free consultation with Quirk Accident & Injury Lawyers, APC.
You may feel more comfortable working with your own insurance provider, but that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically provide everything you need to rebuild your life and pay your hospital bills.
A lawyer protects your case and your innocence if your own insurance company tries to blame you for a driver’s mistake. If they can get you to accept blame, they can reject your case and save a lot of money. Your lawyer can also make sure insurers don’t downplay the severity of your injuries, simply to get away with offering you less.
Your lawyer fully investigates the accident and gathers the powerful evidence you’ll need to hold any insurance company you have to deal with 100% accountable.
Contact a Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you have been in a serious accident caused by an uninsured driver and you’re unsure if you’ll get the support you need to heal and recover, reach out to our Thousand Oaks Motorcycle Accident Lawyers.
Take time to schedule an absolutely free case consultation. Talk over your options and learn about how you can get the most for what you’ve been put through.
There’s no obligation, but if you feel we can earn you and your family more, you won’t need to bring any money to hire us. Quirk Law works on a contingency basis. It means we don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check you win from an insurance company. Perhaps from your own insurer or someone else’s.