Why Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Matters More Than Ever on California Roads

What’s the Big Problem?

Imagine you’re driving down the road and another car crashes into you. You’d think their insurance would pay for your doctor bills and car fixes, right? Well, not always!

Lots of drivers on California roads don’t have enough insurance—or any at all. When that happens, the person who got hurt (that might be you!) often has to pay the leftover costs themselves.

A law team called Barry P. Goldberg, made up of car accident lawyers helping people in the Santa Clarita Valley, is waving a red flag about this. More and more drivers don’t have good enough coverage, and that’s a big risk for everyone.

How Many Drivers Are Uninsured?

Let’s look at the numbers like we’re counting cookies:

• Across the whole country in 2023, about 15.4 out of every 100 drivers had no insurance at all (based on info from the Insurance Information Institute).
• California is one of the worst states: about 1 in 5 drivers has zero liability coverage (liability coverage is the insurance that pays for damage you cause to others).
• If we also count drivers who are “underinsured” (they have some insurance, but not enough), even more people can’t pay for a serious crash.

Important Point: In California, roughly 20% of drivers have NO insurance. Add the underinsured ones, and a crash can leave you stuck with bills.

New Law Raised the Minimum—But Is It Enough?

On January 1, 2025, California passed a rule called the Protect California Drivers Act (SB 1107). This was the first time since 1967 that the state raised the minimum insurance requirements.

• Before: lower required amounts
• Now: about $30,000 per injured person and $60,000 per accident (roughly double the old amount)

But here’s the catch:

• Even $30,000 can disappear fast if someone is badly hurt.
• After that money runs out, the injured driver has to cover the rest.

Important Point: The new law doubled the minimum coverage, but a single serious injury can use it up in days.

What Does a Lawyer Say?

Barry P. Goldberg is the founding attorney at Barry P. Goldberg and knows a lot about California’s uninsured motorist rules. He says:

“Most people assume the other driver’s insurance will cover them. However, too often, it doesn’t. When that happens, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes the difference between recovering your losses and absorbing them yourself. Knowing how to use that coverage and negotiate with insurance carriers is where legal experience matters most.”

In simple words: your own insurance for uninsured/underinsured drivers can save you—but dealing with your own insurance company can be tricky.

What Is UM/UIM Coverage?

UM/UIM stands for Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage. Think of it as a safety net you buy in your own car insurance.

This coverage pays for things like:

• Medical bills
• Lost income (money you miss from not working)
• Other losses

When the driver who caused the crash can’t pay, this part of your policy steps in.

But beware:

• You may have to “negotiate” (talk and argue) with the very insurance company you pay every month.
• Those claims can be just as fought-over as if you were dealing with the other driver.

Important Point: UM/UIM is your backup plan—but using it often means fighting with your own insurer.

How Can Barry P. Goldberg Help?

If you live in Santa Clarita or nearby and got hurt in a crash—even if the other driver ran away (hit-and-run) or had no insurance—the firm can help.

Here’s what they offer:

• Free consultations (a no-cost chat about your case)
• Contingency basis means:
  1. No upfront costs
  2. No fees unless they win money for you

About the Firm

Barry P. Goldberg is a California personal injury law firm (they help people hurt by others). Key facts:

• Founded by Attorney Goldberg, who has practiced this kind of law in California since 1984.
• He is known across California as a top expert on uninsured/underinsured motorist law.
• Over 40 years of helping people.
• They handle:
  • Car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle, and e-bike accidents
  • Hit-and-run crashes
  • Slip-and-fall injuries
  • Dog bites
  • Wrongful death (when someone dies because of another’s mistake)
• They serve Santa Clarita and all of Southern California.

Summary

California roads have many drivers with no or too little insurance. A new 2025 law raised minimum coverage, but it’s still often not enough after a bad crash. Your own UM/UIM coverage can protect you, but using it can mean tough talks with your insurer. Law firms like Barry P. Goldberg offer free consultations and only get paid if you do. Having this coverage—and knowing how to use it—matters more than ever.

FAQ

1. What does “uninsured driver” mean in kid words?
It means a person driving a car who did not buy insurance to pay for crashes they cause.

2. What is “underinsured”?
They bought some insurance, but not enough to cover all the harm from a bad accident.

3. Do I have to use my own insurance if the other driver crashed into me?
If the other driver has no or low insurance, your UM/UIM coverage can pay for your losses when theirs can’t.

4. Is the free consultation really free?
Yes! Barry P. Goldberg offers free consultations, and you pay no fees unless they recover money for you.

5. Why did California change the law in 2025?
Because the old minimum insurance amounts were from 1967 and too low; SB 1107 doubled them to better protect drivers.