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.