Glendale Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accident Attorneys
Make Sense of a Crash with an Uninsured Motorist
You will probably have a lot of questions after being in a car accident. You will have even more if you find out that the other driver was uninsured or underinsured. Is it even possible for you to get the compensation you need to recover in this situation?
Before you worry too much about it, come to the Law Offices of Wax & Wax in Glendale and let us do the busy work for you. Our uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) accident attorneys in Glendale are no strangers to difficult cases with even more difficult defendants and insurance companies. There is nothing that can happen in your case that will catch us by surprise. Put a team as confident and experienced as ours to work on your case!
You can call us at (818) 946-0608 or contact us online to learn more and speak to our Glendale uninsured/underinsured accident lawyers.
What is an Uninsured Motorist?
A driver with no insurance is an uninsured motorist. All drivers in California must carry adequate auto insurance coverage before driving on public roads, which means they cannot be uninsured motorists and still meet the state’s legal requirements. Some drivers can make a special arrangement with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by showing they have enough personal finances to not need insurance, but this is rare. For the most part, if a driver does not have at least the minimum auto insurance coverage, then they are breaking California law.
California’s minimum auto insurance coverage amounts are:
- $15,000 for bodily injury/death to one person
- $30,000 for bodily injury/death to more than one person
- $5,000 for damage to property
What is an Underinsured Motorist?
A driver with auto insurance coverage but not enough to cover the damage they caused in a crash is an underinsured motorist. Unlikely an uninsured motorist, it is not illegal to be an underinsured motorist because there is technically no way to know who will become one. For example, someone could buy a great auto insurance policy that far exceeds California’s minimum requirements and still become an underinsured motorist because they caused a severe, life-changing crash with catastrophic injuries suffered by another person.
If a driver has insurance but not enough to cover all damages, then the injured party can seek additional damages directly from them. Or our attorneys might be able to uncover another insurance policy that we can file against to ensure you still get the most compensation possible for your damages.
Do You Have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance?
In California, you can opt to buy uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance – often just called UM/UIM insurance – that you can add to your auto insurance policy. Most insurance companies do not offer UM/UIM insurance as a standard benefit, so you might not have it.
If you do have UM/UIM insurance, then you are in some luck. We should be able to use that policy to seek coverage for your damages when you have been hit by someone with no insurance or with not enough coverage to take care of you.
Filing a First-Party Claim
When using a UM/UIM insurance policy, you will technically file a first-party claim, which means you are filing against your insurance provider. In contrast, you would normally file a third-party claim against the other driver’s policy.
A first-party UM/UIM claim can help pay for:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repairs
- Pain and suffering (in some cases)
First-party claims might seem simpler, but they can be just as much trouble as any other car accident claim. Your insurer might have sold you the policy, but they still will not want to pay it out to you. This is where it becomes a good idea to get our lawyers on the case, so you know you will not be pushed around by your insurance company.
We Go Above & Beyond for Uninsured Motorist Claims
Our Glendale UM/UIM accident attorneys would like to help you after you’ve been hit by a driver without any or enough auto insurance coverage. You are probably in a terrible spot right now and have enough to deal with as it is. Please leave this up to us, so you can focus on more important things, like your rest and recovery.
Take legal action now. Call (818) 946-0608.
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"Robert is your go-to attorney!"WOW! I am not just saying this - but Robert is your go-to attorney. He has been so patient and professional during my entire process. I will refer him to everyone I know. He answered all of my questions and was very honest with me. He took time out of his busy schedule to explain the process to me from beginning to end. I feel confident that he has my best interest and look forward to working with him. Thank you Wax & Wax.- Christine P.
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"He won my workers' comp case!"They were always warm and professional.- Maureen
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"The burden was off my shoulders!"I thank you for working tirelessly from beginning to end.- Christina
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"Highly recommend!"An honest firm with integrity.- Kevin K
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"s soon as he took on my case, my stress was lifted and Mr. Wax dealt with all the communication and negotiations."I was dealing with my worker's compensation case on my own and I found it confusing and overbearing at times. I met with Alan Wax from The Law Offices of Wax & Wax and I was instantly put at ease. Mr. Wax has been in this business for a very long time; he knew exactly what doctors I needed to see and how to move forward to negotiate my case against the adjusters. He not only advised me for better offers on my case but he demanded I receive all of my doctor requests from the adjuster. As soon as he took on my case, my stress was lifted and Mr. Wax dealt with all the communication and negotiations. Thank you so much for everything! I would recommend the Law Offices of Wax & Wax to anyone and everyone!- Beverly O.
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"Highly recommend Robert for your future cases."I worked with Robert Castillo on my case. He is knowledgeable and patient; Allows time and space for you to ask questions. The office staff is organized and responsive. They send regular correspondence to home and set up a phone appointment if necessary. I enjoyed working with this law firm. Reasonable price, friendly staff, and professional. Highly recommend Robert for your future cases.- Azin G.
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"Wax and Wax are true professionals!"They helped me make the right decision.- Jonathan
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"Robert Castillo is an excellent attorney. He went above and beyond to help me."Robert Castillo is an excellent attorney. He went above and beyond to help me. I knew I could trust and rely on him. Mr. Castillo was kind and listened to my concerns. His expertise was essential in dealing with the challenges of Workman's Comp. I recommend him highly because he exceeded my expectations. Well done!- Char H.
