Sacramento Uninsured Motorists Accident Lawyers
Injured in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist? Fight back! Call 916-714-7672 today.
Sacramento Uninsured Motorists Accident Attorneys
The most dangerous drivers often carry the minimum amount of insurance required by law, or no insurance at all. This is bad news when you are facing medical bills, lost time from work, a wrecked vehicle, and possibly permanent harm from an accident. Luckily, your own insurance policy probably contains uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This is when you should turn to the Sacramento uninsured motorists accident lawyers at Guenard & Bozarth, LLP.
The average policyholder may have difficulty collecting full compensation without legal help. Guenard & Bozarth, LLP has years of experience with uninsured motorist accident claims. We won’t let the insurance company deny, delay, or downplay your legitimate claim for damages.
Other Sacramento Legal Issues We Handle Include
Understanding UM And UIM Coverage
California law requires every driver to carry liability insurance for bodily injury to others. A disturbing percentage of Californians are driving around without any insurance. And many drivers opt for the minimum liability coverage, $15,000 per individual and up to $30,000 to cover all victims, plus $5,000 in property damage. In a serious accident, hospital care, lost wages, and other damages can far exceed this coverage.
Your own UM/UIM policy can be invoked:
- If the other driver is not insured
- If your losses exceed the other driver’s policy limits
- In a hit-and-run situation when the other driver is not identified
While you maintain the right to pursue a case against another driver even if they don’t have insurance, your options for recovery could be limited, and a successful case does not guarantee you’ll get the compensation you deserve.
Compensation You Can Recover from an Uninsured Motorist Case
Depending on the circumstances of your case and the limits of your policy, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses. This includes emergency room treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, physician visits, diagnostic testing, prescription medications, therapy, and any future medical care related to your injuries.
- Lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, you may recover compensation for the income you lost while recovering. In serious cases, you may also be able to seek damages for diminished earning capacity if your ability to work has been permanently affected.
- Pain and suffering. Uninsured motorist claims can include non-economic damages such as physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages are often significant when injuries cause long-term limitations or chronic pain.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement. Compensation may be available if the accident results in lasting impairments, scarring, or other permanent physical consequences that affect your daily life.
- Property damage. Depending on your coverage, you may be able to recover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and other property damaged in the crash.
The amount you can recover will generally depend on the severity of your injuries, the value of your losses, and the limitations of your insurance policy. An experienced Sacramento uninsured motorists accident attorney can evaluate your damages, negotiate with the insurance company, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Properly Valuing Your Claim
One of the most important reasons to hire an uninsured motorists accident lawyer is to make sure your claim is properly valued. Accident victims frequently underestimate the full extent of their losses, particularly when future medical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, lost capacity for earning, and pain and suffering are involved. An attorney can evaluate all current and future damages to pursue the compensation you deserve under your uninsured motorist coverage.
Gathering Key Evidence
A lawyer can also gather and preserve critical evidence needed to support your uninsured motorist accident case. This may include police reports, medical records, witness statements, accident scene evidence, professional opinions, and documentation of your financial losses. Strong evidence is often essential when an insurer questions fault or attempts to minimize the value of a claim.
Explaining Complicated Policy Terms
Language in an insurance policy can be complicated, and uninsured motorist coverage disputes often involve technical legal and contractual issues. An attorney can review your policy, explain your rights, identify all available sources of compensation, and help you meet important filing deadlines and procedural requirements.
Countering Low-Ball Offers and Pursuing Alternative Dispute Resolution
If the insurance company makes a low settlement offer or denies a claim altogether, your lawyer can negotiate aggressively on your behalf. Attorneys who regularly handle uninsured motorist cases understand the tactics insurers use and how to respond with evidence and legal arguments that support fair recovery.
In some cases, uninsured motorist claims must be resolved through arbitration rather than traditional litigation. A lawyer can prepare your case, present evidence, examine witnesses, and advocate for your interests throughout the process.
After a serious accident, your focus should be on recovering from your injuries, not battling with an insurance company. Hiring an experienced attorney helps you protect your rights, avoid costly mistakes, and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
How the Statute of Limitations Affects Uninsured Motorist Cases
Time limits can have a significant impact on your ability to recover compensation after an accident with an uninsured driver. In California, Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 sets the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims at two years from the date of the crash. Specifically regarding uninsured motorist cases, CCP § 11580.2 sets a similar two-year deadline. If a case is not filed within that period, the injured party may lose the right to pursue compensation.
However, uninsured motorist claims can be more complicated because they involve both personal injury law and the terms of your insurance policy. In addition to the general statute of limitations that applies to these cases, your insurance policy may contain specific notice requirements and deadlines for reporting the collision and requesting benefits. Failing to comply with these requirements could jeopardize your claim, even if the statute of limitations has not yet expired.
Why Timely Action Matters
Prompt action is particularly important in uninsured motorist cases because evidence can disappear over time. Witness memories may fade, surveillance footage may be lost, and obtaining records that support your claim can be more difficult as time passes. Starting the claims process early helps preserve important evidence and gives your attorney more opportunities to build a strong case.
Waiting too long to seek legal advice can create unnecessary risks. An experienced attorney can identify the deadlines that may apply to your case, complete and file all documents on time, and protect your right to pursue compensation. Acting quickly can help support your case and improve your chances of recovering from the damages you deserve.
Sacramento Uninsured Motorists Accident Lawyers
Our lawyers have handled motor vehicle accidents in Northern California for more than 25 years, with offices in Sacramento and Elk Grove. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage to go around, call Guenard & Bozarth, LLP for a legal consultation or contact us online. We can handle your case from the beginning or intervene if you are having problems with your UM/UIM claim.
Vehicle Accidents
INJURY PRACTICE AREAS
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
We will promptly investigate your car, motorcycle or truck crash to pursue maximum damages.
INJURIES ON PROPERTY
Wrongful Death
PERSONAL INJURY
We fight back when legitimate claims are unfairly denied by insurance companies.
INSURANCE BAD FAITH
Bad faith litigation is becoming more common as the insurance industry continues to engage in dishonest practices that trample the rights of policyholders.
INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW US BECAUSE THEY’VE PAID OUR CLIENTS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
$2.9
MILLION
CAR ACCIDENT INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth llp obtained a $2,962,903 jury verdict in the Sacramento County Superior Court for plaintiff David Schoonover, who suffered head and neck injuries and fractures in a head-on accident on Roseville Road in Roseville on July 22, 2012
$300
THOUSAND
HAIR SALON INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a case for $300,000 involving a hair weave that went terribly wrong. Our client was a young lady, and aspiring model, who experienced pressure necrosis from a tight weave and it changed her life.
$500
THOUSAND
SLIP & FALL INJURY
Guenard & Bozarth LLP recently settled a slip and fall case for $500,000 a couple weeks before trial. The client slipped and fell on a wet piece of cardboard in a grocery store and sustained a serious shoulder injury that required surgery.
$300
THOUSAND
NEGLIGENCE INJURY
On February 13, 2013 Maricela, a Certified Nursing Assistant presented to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room with complaint of neck and back pain. She was diagnosed with a neck strain and was given Ibuprofen and instructed to return if her symptoms did not subside.
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