Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
Jacob Regar
In California, too many drivers are uninsured or underinsured. Sometimes mistakes happen behind the wheel, and someone may be injured as a result. Cars are very heavy and they can move at a great rate of speed. If you or a loved one have been injured by a negligent uninsured driver, you should call me at my law office, Jacob Regar Law, for a free initial case evaluation. My Encino, CA office phone number is (818) 588-0653.
Even if you think you know for sure that the other driver that hit you was an uninsured motorist there may be insurance on the car. I have specific experience in handling these types of claims and I know the steps that need to be taken to find out how to get you the compensation you deserve.
Like I explained in my helpful car accidents page, knowing what to do after you are involved in a car accident can help you make sure you are in a position to receive maximum compensation for your damages. And if it should occur that the person that caused the accident did not have car insurance (which is against the law), then the following applies to pursuing an uninsured motorist (UM) claim against your own insurance company under the provisions of your policy.
Your Uninsured Motorist Claim
When you make an uninsured motorist claim under the UM provision of your policy your rights become adverse to those of your insurance company. Simply put, you are demanding to be compensated from your own policy, that you pay for, and your own insurance company will do everything in their power to minimize what they owe you. That's why you need an attorney to fight for you. It's not just a cheesy line, it's one of the realities of this business. You need an attorney with specific experience in this field to prove your case.
Also, because your right to bring a UM claim is based on the language of your automobile insurance policy, your policy gives you the right to demand arbitration rather than to file a lawsuit, should you and your insurer disagree on the value of your claim.
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution. It is different than a jury trial in that the fact finder is the arbitrator, not a panel of 12 jurors. That means there is only one person to pursuade. That also means there are 11 fewer personalities to impartially judge your case.
Uninsured motorist claims are not as straightforward as they seem. There are crucial steps that must be taken to preserve your right to recover money from the uninsured motorist portion of your own insurance policy. I have the resources and the know-how to protect your very imporant insurance policy rights.
You may ask what is the different between uninsured and underinsured motorist claims?
- You make an uninsured motorist claim when the other driver did not have insurance coverage in effect at the time of the accident.
- You make an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim when the other driver did have active insurance coverage at the time of the accident, but your damages exceeded their policy limit and you actually recovered the full limit of the policy. For example: In a case where your damages are $100,000. The driver that hit you had a $15,000 policy. Thus, your damages exceed their policy limit. If you actually recover the full $15,000 policy limit, you can then make a claim against your underinsured motorist policy provision - within your policy limits - for the amount of money that you are still owed (i.e., $85,000).
Experience Matters
Of course, you need an attorney to help you mount your evidence and prove your case. And as the uninsured motorist lawyer at Jacob Regar Law, I have specific experience hanlding these types of cases. I have successfully settled uninsured motorist cases for my clients in the San Fernando Valley and obtained favorable results.
Call me today to discuss your case and learn about your rights: (818) 588-0653