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Insurance Implications in a Car Accident

Modesto Car Accident Attorney Explains Insurance Laws

Under state law, all drivers in California are required to purchase and maintain liability insurance. Driving without insurance is a traffic violation, and if a driver is caught behind the wheel without having a policy, he or she can be subjected to tough legal penalties. The absolute minimum allowable amount of liability insurance coverage is:

  • $15,000 in bodily injury or death for one person
  • $30,000 in bodily injury or death per accident
  • $5,000 in property damage

If you have been injured in an accident and the other driver is found to be liable for causing the accident, you most likely have grounds to file a claim against that driver's liability policy.

Unfortunately, the minimum amounts of liability coverage are frequently not enough to cover the full costs of a personal injury or wrongful death claim. For example, a spinal cord injury victim can expect to spend as much as $30,000 per year and up to $3 million over the course of a lifetime in medical expenses alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These figures do not even take into account the costs of lost income, in addition to compensation for the accident victim's pain, suffering and emotional distress.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Claims in Modesto

Even if the other driver's insurance is not enough to fully satisfy the value of your claim, or if, like 15 percent of drivers statewide, he or she does not have insurance, we may still be able to help you recover compensation. Under state law, insurance companies are required to offer uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage with every liability policy they sell, so unless you expressly waived it, you should have this type of coverage.

A Modesto personal injury attorney from our team can assist you with filing the claim against your own policy. In addition, we may represent you in legal action against the driver, with the goal of obtaining a wage garnishment or property lien that you can use to satisfy the remainder of your claim. Bring the case to us now at Scott Mitchell Law Incorporated so that we can examine all your options and get started on your claim for damages! Contact the firm to discuss your case.

Fees and Payments

Here at Scott Mitchell Law Incorporated, when it comes to fees and payments, we strive to be flexible with clients who are seeking legal representation. We offer payment arrangements, flat fee contracts, and traditional retainer agreements. We understand legal representation is necessary for all, and yet difficult for most to pay the fees all at once. Although we cannot guarantee that everyone will be able to hire us, we do promise to do what we can to make it possible for you to hire one of our attorneys to represent you.

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