How does insurance work?
Insurance words can sound alike but cover different things. Compare the type of policy, who it protects, and what the claim requires. A limit is not a promised payment.
Follow your question.
Understand the coverage
Start with the limits and the difference between no insurance and too little.
Check your own position
Your policy, role, and work trip can change the review.
Handle a claim or offer
Keep statements, offers, and releases separate so you know what each step means.
What should I know before talking to an adjuster?
An adjuster handles claims for an insurer. Be truthful and keep notes. Do not guess about fault or how long your injury will last.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDDo I have to give a recorded statement?
It depends on who asks and what your policy says. A request from your own insurer may differ from one from the other driver’s insurer.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if the driver who hit me has no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may help. This is coverage for some harm caused by a driver with no insurance. You must have the coverage and meet its rules.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat if the other driver does not have enough insurance?
Your own underinsured motorist coverage may help. It can apply when the driver who hurt you has too little insurance. It does not always add both policy limits together.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat insurance might help after a hit-and-run?
Your uninsured motorist coverage may help after some hit-and-run crashes. These claims have special rules about proof, contact, reports, and notice.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDDo I have to accept the first settlement offer?
No. An offer is a proposal. You can ask questions and review whether it accounts for the injuries and losses covered by the claim.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat does a settlement release do?
A release is an agreement that can give up legal claims in exchange for payment. Its wording matters.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWho pays medical bills while a claim is pending?
Bills may still be due while your claim is open. Your health plan or auto policy may help pay some costs. The other side may not pay as each bill arrives.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat can I do if insurance denies my claim?
Ask why the insurer said no. A dispute about policy coverage differs from a dispute about fault or the amount of a loss.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDCan being uninsured affect my own injury claim?
Yes. If you drove without insurance, state law may limit what you can claim for pain and other nonfinancial harm. This can apply even when the crash was not your fault.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDCan my policy help if I have only liability coverage?
This part of a car policy usually pays for harm you cause to other people. It is not the same as coverage for your own injuries. The whole policy needs review.
Read the explanation CALIFORNIA LAW EXPLAINEDWhat do California’s car insurance minimums mean?
California’s standard car policy minimums are often called 30/60/15. That means $30,000 for injury or death to one person. It means $60,000 for all injury or death in one crash, and $15,000 for property damage. These limits do not promise a payment.
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