The other driver caused the crash, has no insurance, and has no assets worth chasing. Case over? Usually not. Most people carry the coverage that saves this case without knowing it.
Uninsured motorist coverage: the policy you forgot you bought
UM coverage steps into the shoes of the missing insurance: it pays what the at-fault driver's policy should have paid, from your own insurer. It also covers hit-and-runs, and in many policies it protects you as a pedestrian or cyclist, and covers your passengers too.
Underinsured is the same fight
When the at-fault driver carries a minimal policy that doesn't touch your damages, underinsured motorist coverage pays the difference up to your limits. With California minimums still low and LA medical bills high, UIM is where serious cases find real money.
Your insurer is not on your side here
A UM/UIM claim turns your own insurer into the negotiating opponent. The adjuster who is friendly about your premium becomes the adjuster minimizing your injuries. These claims run through demand and arbitration rather than open court, with their own deadlines, and they are absolutely lawyer work. Using your UM coverage for a crash that wasn't your fault should not raise your rates.
Practical moves
- Call the police and report a hit-and-run immediately. Many policies require prompt notice for phantom-driver claims.
- Photograph everything and canvass for cameras: doorbells, storefronts, dashcams.
- Notify your insurer promptly, but give the recorded statement after you have counsel.
- Check every household policy. Resident relatives' coverage can stack in ways adjusters won't volunteer.
- Review your own declarations page today: if your UM/UIM limits are minimal, raise them. It's the cheapest protection you can buy in this city.
Questions about your situation? The consultation is free and the advice is honest. Call (310) 598-9614, 24/7.