The majority of San Francisco car accidents are caused by negligent drivers who engage in unsafe driving activity, including driving while intoxicated, text messaging on a cell phone, ignoring the speed limit or otherwise violating California traffic safety laws. Typically, the insurance company for the other driver will be the source for financial compensation in such motor vehicle accidents. When the negligent driver does not have insurance and the car accident victim does not have uninsured motorist coverage (UM), this can pose severe financial challenges for a motor vehicle accident victim. While the accident victim may have health insurance to cover medical costs, this will not compensate a San Francisco car accident victim for lost wages, future diminished earnings, pain and suffering and other damages.
Our experienced San Francisco car accident lawyers frequently investigates car accidents where the negligent driver has no insurance so that we can identify other potential defendants. This also may be an important strategy when the other driver carries only the minimum liability coverage under California law. The minimum required auto liability coverage under California law is $15,000 per injury victim and $30,000 for all injuries. This is a nominal amount of insurance coverage that will not begin to compensate a San Francisco car accident victim for severe injuries like spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, amputation of limbs and wrongful death.
There are many entities other than a negligent driver that may share liability for a San Francisco car accident including:
- Automakers: The manufacturer of the vehicle or component parts may be financially responsible for injuries suffered because of defective vehicles or parts. Defective vehicle systems that have caused accidents include brake malfunction, faulty fuel lines, sudden acceleration and similar forms of vehicle malfunction.
- Repair Shops: When you pay a repair shop to work on your vehicle, such as repairing brake systems or replacing tires, the repair shop may share liability if the shop’s failure to do the work properly causes a collision.
- Government Entities: When the design or condition of the roadway create an unsafe hazard that contributes to a collision, the government entity may be liable for a car crash. Car accident claims against government entities involve special issues as well as compliance with distinct procedures and timing requirements. Time is of the essence when pursuing a car accident claim against a government entity.
- Employers of Negligent Drivers: If an employee was acting within the scope of employment during the time of the collisions, the employer may be a viable source for recovery. The employee need not be driving during work hours nor even be on a specific errand at the direction of an employer. It may be sufficient that the employee is engaged in a task that is for the benefit of the employer.
- Vehicle Owners: When a vehicle owner entrusts their vehicle to an unsafe driver, the vehicle owner may be liable for the negligence of the individual to whom the vehicle was entrusted.
Contact Us For Your Free Consultation
While this is not a comprehensive list of all parties that may be responsible for a serious car accident in San Francisco, it provides insight into the tactics required when the party that causes a serious auto accident lacks adequate insurance. Our San Francisco car accident law firm has handled many serious car accident cases involving negligent drivers who lack adequate insurance. If you or someone you love has been injured or a loved one has died in a San Francisco car accident, you should contact us as soon as possible because critical deadlines apply. We invite you to contact The Law Office of Ian Zimmerman for your free initial consultation. We are open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., speak Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, and are available for weekend, evening, home and hospital meetings and visits. We also offer free initial consultations and work exclusively on a contingency fee basis so that you pay nothing if we don’t win your case.