California is an at fault state, meaning that the at fault driver in the accident is responsible for paying for those who are hurt in the accident. There are no restrictions on your right to sue in at fault states. California has strict rules, as do many other states, about what kind of insurance coverage must be carried by each person.
Drivers in California, for example, have to carry a minimum of $15,000 in bodily injury liability insurance replaced by $1000 in property damage, and a minimum of $5000 in property damage liability insurance. Liability insurance will cover the other driver’s expenses when an insured driver is responsible for an accident.
Once you file a claim, there are important rights that you must be aware of as it relates to your car insurance company. For example, per the fair claim settlement practices regulations, your insurance company must advise you about coverage benefits, time limits and other provisions in your insurance policy. They must also respond to communications received from you as soon as possible but no later than 15 days after they have been received.
The insurance company must also be prepared to begin an investigation, acknowledge the claim, provide forms and instructions and provide assistance when reasonably necessary, and pay the claim immediately after the claim has been accepted. It can be overwhelming to be the person suffering from a serious vehicle accident and trying to figure out how to move forward.
If your insurance company is not keeping you informed or is giving you the runaround, you deserve to talk to a lawyer about how to respond and protect your interests in this claim.
Schedule a consultation with a trusted San Francisco car accident lawyer now to learn more.