What Is UM/UIM Coverage and Why Does It Matter? Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays you when you're injured by a driver who has no insurance. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage pays the gap when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to fully compensate you. California law requires all auto insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage. If you have it — and most drivers do — your own insurer becomes the defendant when an uninsured or underinsured driver injures you. Here's what most people don't realize: your own insurer has every incentive to undervalue your UM/UIM claim, just like any other insurer would. DePaoli Law Team treats UM/UIM claims with the same full-scale advocacy as any other personal injury case — including filing suit against your own insurer if they refuse to pay fair value. We review your full policy to understand your available UM/UIM limits We document your injuries and damages completely before any settlement We negotiate aggressively and file suit if your insurer stonewalls We investigate whether the uninsured driver has assets worth pursuing We evaluate all other sources of recovery — dram shop, employer, etc. Insurance Bad Faith in UM/UIM Claims California law requires your insurer to handle your UM/UIM claim in good faith. When they delay unreasonably, deny without cause, or lowball you knowing your claim is worth more, they may be engaging in insurance bad faith — which can create additional liability beyond the policy limits. DePaoli Law Team monitors every UM/UIM claim for bad faith indicators and holds insurers accountable when they violate their duty to their own policyholders. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat if the driver who hit me has no insurance? +Your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage steps in. California requires insurers to offer it. If you have it, your own insurer must pay your damages up to your UM policy limits — and DePaoli Law Team fights to maximize what you recover. The at-fault driver had $15,000 in coverage but my bills are $80,000 — what do I do? +This is an underinsured motorist (UIM) situation. After exhausting the at-fault driver's policy, your own UIM coverage covers the gap up to your policy limits. DePaoli Law Team handles both the liability claim and the UIM claim simultaneously. Will filing a UM claim raise my insurance rates? +California law protects you from rate increases for UM claims where you were not at fault. Your insurer cannot surcharge your premium or cancel your policy for a not-at-fault UM claim. Call DePaoli Law Team before filing — we guide you through the process.