In California auto insurance companies provide policyholders with uninsured motorist insurance (“UM”) coverage and underinsured motorist insurance (“UIM”) coverage in the event the policyholder (or an insured):
- Is involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist (another car that does not have liability insurance), or
- Is involved in an accident with an underinsured motorist (another motorist that has liability coverage less than the policyholder’s UIM coverage)
First Party Insurance Coverages
Uninsured motorist insurance coverage and underinsured motorist insurance coverage are called first party coverages.
This means that in the event that the insurance policyholder or an insured is involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist or an underinsured motorist and the policyholder or an insured sustains bodily injuries covered under the insurance policy, the policyholder or an insured can recover from their own insurance carrier.
Many times in an underinsured motorist claim or an uninsured motorist claim, when there is a dispute regarding the amount that should be paid for bodily injury or death, these claims wind up in arbitration.
Unreasonable Insurance Company Conduct
If it is reasonably clear that your insurance company should have paid your uninsured motorist claim or underinsured motorist claim up to policy limits, but your insurance company unreasonably insisted on putting you or an insured through a needless arbitration, and the arbitration award was greater than your insurance company offered to pay, there is probably a basis to pursue “bad faith litigation” against your insurance carrier.
GET HELP WITH YOUR UNDERINSURED OR UNINSURED MOTORIST CLAIM
Contact A California Bad Faith Insurance Attorney
If your underinsured motorist claim or uninsured motorist claim has been handled unreasonably, underpaid, or if you are getting the runaround on your underinsured motorist or uninsured motorist claim against your insurance company, you should consult California bad faith insurance attorneys with experience in insurance matters and bad faith.
Call (213) 842-8164 for a free, no-risk initial consultation, email a bad faith insurance trial attorney, or complete our online Contact Us Form. Contact Viau and Kwasniewski for more information about uninsured motorist insurance claims and underinsured motorist claims.
In most cases our California bad faith insurance attorneys will work on a Contingency Fee basis meaning we are paid only if we obtain a recovery on your behalf.
