{"id":33385,"date":"2021-02-10T19:19:17","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T19:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/?page_id=33385"},"modified":"2026-10-08T00:44:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T00:44:37","slug":"can-i-use-umbrella-insurance-if-i-was-in-an-acccident","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/es\/practice-areas\/car-accident-attorney\/can-i-use-umbrella-insurance-if-i-was-in-an-acccident\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Use Umbrella Insurance If I Was In An Accident?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can I Use Umbrella Insurance If I Was In An Accident in California?<\/h1>\r\n
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It is legally required for you to own a personal auto insurance policy if you are a driver on the road. You must meet the legal minimum limits so that proper coverage and be doled out in the event of an accident. There are many forms of insurance coverage, ranging from comprehensive and collision insurance to liability insurance. The issue is that many individuals have policies that do not fully cover their expenses if there are any incidents. To combat this, insurance agencies offer umbrella insurance, which allows parties the ability to merge policies and essentially use coverage from multiple sources. Our law firm, the Downtown LA Law Group in California, can ensure that your policy is properly utilized and that the insurance company pays out what they owe if you were hurt in an accident or if your car was damaged. Contact us today in California to learn more about umbrella insurance and what we can do to help.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is umbrella insurance?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Umbrella insurance is liability insurance and is added to your basic liability policies. It provides a higher limit and prevents assets from being seized if you owe a lot of money to someone if you were at fault in an accident. You may be held accountable for bodily injuries to such an extent that your policy limit<\/a> does not reach the expenses. It provides excess liability coverage, so if your policy limits are too low, you can still have coverage. Essentially, you are protected from bodily injury liability claims in which individuals were, as well as property damage liability claims in which vehicles were damaged or totaled. You can also have coverage of false arrests, slander, libel, and more. It\u2019s a versatile type of insurance. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Umbrella insurance will go into effect only when your basic policy limits have been reached. However, if the costs still exceed the umbrella insurance limits, you will be responsible for the rest out of pocket. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why should I use umbrella insurance?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Umbrella insurance should be used because you have many assets that could potentially be seized if you owe a large amount of expenses after a car accident. Examples of assets include automobiles, property, investments, stocks, joint retirement accounts, IRA accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, future income, and more. It is generally wiser to have umbrella insurance cover the excess damages so that your personal assets will not be used. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Can I access my umbrella insurance policy if I was injured in a car accident in California?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yes, you can access your umbrella insurance policy if you were injured in a car accident, but only under certain conditions. Your insurance company will not pay out damages if the other driver were at fault and his insurance can take care of all the expenses. You could potentially reach out to your own insurance agency for additional compensation if the payments from the opposing party are not enough.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You could also potentially access your own umbrella insurance policy if you were involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. He will have no way of paying off the debts, and even if his estate and savings were targeted, it may still not be enough. Similarly, if you were in a hit and run accident, there would be no opposing insurance company who could contribute to your expenses. You will specifically need uninsured\/underinsured insurance coverage, though. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\r\n

What should I do after a car accident?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is highly recommended that you follow these steps after getting into a car accident. You will have the chance of success with a claim and if you have adequate evidence, the other driver will not be able to falsely accuse you of liability or causing damages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Firstly, get the medical attention you need, even if you were not seriously injured. You should call the paramedics or go to the emergency room for severe damages, especially because some injuries may not show up immediately or be readily apparent. The doctor can check you out and see the extent of the damages. If you do not get medical treatment within an acceptable amount of time after the crash, it is likely that the insurance company will toss your claim away or try to blame your injuries on something other than the car accident<\/a>. You do not want to risk having your claim voided or thrown out. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Take pictures of any and all injuries you suffered. Having proof of your physical damage is very important in a car crash claim. Additionally, you should take pictures of your car\u2019s damage and the damage to the other vehicle. It will also benefit your case if you take pictures of the scene of the accident to show nuances like where you were hit, the road conditions, the weather, and more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You should write down the other driver\u2019s contact information, insurance details, driver\u2019s license number, license plate, and more. This will allow you to file your own claim if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the event there were injuries, police officers would likely have come to the scene of the accident. You can ask for a copy of the police report after it has been submitted to the station. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

If there were any eyewitnesses who saw the car accident happen, such as passengers or pedestrians, you can interview them for their statements and testimonies for your case. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lastly, get in touch with a Los Angeles, California car accident lawyer who can help you with your claim. If you have never taken legal action before, you should leave the process to a skilled attorney in California. You can focus on recovering from your injuries and healing up while we gather your evidence, write your demand letter, negotiate a fair deal, and see to it that your umbrella insurance policy is properly utilized. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

What can I receive in a car accident claim?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You may be able to secure various types of compensation if you were hurt in a car accident, and your umbrella insurance could cover numerous expenses. The insurance agent who is assigned to your case will determine how much the offer is and what will be covered. He will consider the extent of the damages, the severity, the impact they had on your life and career, your age, your responsibility or level of faulty in the incident, and more. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

We will strive to win you the following damages:<\/span><\/p>\r\n