10/13/2025
Why Every California Driver Needs Strong Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
When you are involved in a car accident caused by someone else, you expect their insurance to pay for your injuries, your lost wages, and your medical bills. But what happens if the other driver does not have enough insurance, or has no insurance at all?
Unfortunately, that is not a rare situation in California. A large number of drivers either carry only the state’s minimum liability limits or drive completely uninsured. If one of them hits you and you do not have good uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (often called “UM/UIM”), you could be left paying for your own injuries out of pocket.
What Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage are parts of your own auto insurance policy that protect you and your passengers when the at-fault driver does not have adequate coverage.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) applies when the other driver has no insurance at all.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) applies when the other driver’s liability limits are too low to cover your damages.
For example, if a driver with California’s minimum coverage of $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident injures you badly in a crash, those limits will not come close to covering your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Your UIM coverage can make up the difference, up to your own policy limits.
Why the State Minimum Is Not Enough
The state minimum liability limits have not changed in decades, even though the cost of medical care and wages has increased dramatically.
A single emergency room visit can exceed $15,000.
A herniated disc or concussion can easily lead to $50,000 to $100,000 in medical bills and treatment.
If you miss months of work or require surgery, your damages can exceed $250,000.
If your UM/UIM limits are low, you might recover only a small portion of what your case is truly worth.
How Much Coverage Should You Carry?
As a general rule, every California driver should carry at least $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident in UM/UIM coverage. If you can afford it, consider increasing it to $250,000 / $500,000 or even $1 million.
Higher limits cost surprisingly little more per month, often just a few extra dollars, and could be the difference between being fully compensated and being left with large unpaid bills after a serious crash.
Remember: your UM/UIM limits can never exceed your liability limits. If you increase your liability coverage, make sure you raise your UM/UIM limits to match.
Real-World Example
Imagine you are rear-ended by a driver who carries only the $30,000 minimum policy. You suffer a back injury that requires multiple MRIs, injections, and several months of physical therapy. Let's say your total damages come out to $120,000.
If you carry $250,000 in UM/UIM coverage, your insurance company can step in to pay the remaining $90,000 after the at-fault driver’s insurer pays its $30,000 limit. Without it, you would be left with a significant amount of unpaid medical and out-of-pocket costs, and insufficient compensation for your pain and suffering.
Final Thoughts
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is one of the most important and most overlooked parts of your auto policy. You cannot control who hits you, but you can control how well you are protected when it happens.
At Nazaryan Law, APC, we have seen firsthand how proper UM/UIM coverage can make all the difference for our clients. We strongly recommend reviewing your policy and increasing your limits to at least $100k/$300k, and ideally $250k/$500k or more.
If you are unsure what your coverage looks like or how it would apply after an accident, contact our office. We will review your policy with you and explain how to make sure you and your family are fully protected.
