Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Apply to Hit-and-Run Accidents in California?

Hit-and-run drivers unfairly leave their victims to handle significant physical, emotional, and financial pain alone.

And hit-and-run drivers can also leave victims with many questions, including, Does uninsured motorist insurance cover hit-and-run? In California, fortunately, the answer is yes. 

Being involved in an accident is challenging, and even more difficult when the at-fault driver flees the scene.

But the damages caused by the at-fault driver can be covered by your uninsured motorist coverage.

Hit-and-run accidents are a specialty of the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart, which can help ensure victims recover everything they are entitled to receive.

Attorney Chuck Geerhart is a highly experienced auto accident attorney who gives his undivided, expert attention to each client he represents. 

Why File an Uninsured Motorist Claim?

Unfortunately, it appears that more at-fault drivers are refusing to take responsibility for their harmful acts.

The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the number of fatalities caused by hit-and-run collisions increased by 26% in 2020. 

In many cases, even an at-fault driver who stays at an accident site to exchange information with a victim is unable to pay on their own for the damage they caused.

This is why many accident victims seek payment through an at-fault driver’s insurer or their own carrier’s uninsured motorist policy. 

Uninsured motorist coverage can be crucial after a crash because the financial, physical, and emotional setbacks caused by an accident are often substantial.

Common auto-accident-related injuries and conditions include the following:

• Soft tissue injuries,
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
• Broken bones,
• Depression,
• Traumatic brain injuries, 
• Nerve damage,
• Anxiety,
• Scarring, 
• Internal bleeding, and 
• Spinal injuries. 

These injuries are expensive to treat, and they can complicate an accident victim’s ability to earn a living and enjoy life.

So, if an accident victim cannot locate who hit them, their uninsured motorist coverage can compensate them for their financial losses and medical expenses. 

Who Has Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

The State of California requires all auto insurance carriers to provide their policyholders with uninsured motorist coverage unless a policyholder signs a waiver to decline the coverage.

Anyone who is unsure about whether they have this coverage should have a skilled attorney review their policy paperwork for a waiver or coverage information. 

When Can an Accident Victim File an Uninsured Motorist Claim? 

Under California law, the definition of an uninsured motorist includes a driver who is unknown to an accident victim. Therefore, hit-and-run collisions are typically covered.

Uninsured motorist benefits should pay for a victim’s property damage and bodily injuries at the same amounts available under an accident victim’s liability policy.

A policyholder needs to act quickly and deal carefully with their insurance provider to receive the benefits they deserve.

Although an uninsured motorist claim is filed with a policyholder’s own insurance company, insurance providers are notorious for finding ways to deny coverage.

If you cannot reach a settlement with your insurer, keep in mind that you have only two years from the date of the accident to demand arbitration or file a lawsuit to enforce your rights.

The best way a policyholder can make sure that their uninsured motorist claim is handled correctly is to consult a knowledgeable attorney immediately.

Consult Us For the Best Recovery Possible

The Law Office of Chuck Geerhart is the office to call when a hit-and-run-accident victim wants to know, Does uninsured motorist insurance cover a hit-and-run in California?

Chuck Geerhart is a knowledgeable and dedicated auto accident attorney who has several decades of experience.

Chuck Geerhart has also negotiated multi-million-dollar settlements for multiple clients.

And while our firm’s legal team wins big firm awards for the people we represent, we also give each client the kind of one-on-one, personalized attention they would find in a small firm setting.

If you need help with obtaining compensation after a hit-and-run collision, call the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart or contact the firm online to schedule a consultation.