Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage isn’t mandatory, but California requires insurers to offer it, and it’s strongly recommended. Industry estimates put roughly one in six California drivers on the road without insurance.
UM/UIM pays for your injuries, lost wages, and in qualifying cases pain and suffering when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. It generally also covers hit-and-run accidents involving injuries, and it can protect you and your household as pedestrians or cyclists, which matters on trails like the Virginia Corridor Trail in Mission Viejo.
To decline or lower UM, you must sign a written waiver. California doesn’t allow stacking UM limits across vehicles. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage can pay up to $3,500 for damage to your car from an identified uninsured driver. A good rule of thumb is to match your UM limits to your Bodily Injury Liability limits.
Questions about your own policy? Elye Insurance in Mission Viejo helps homeowners and drivers across California and Nevada compare options from multiple carriers.
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