Policy limits
The most an insurance policy will pay, whatever the claim is worth.
A claim worth more than the available coverage is a different problem from a claim that is hard to prove, and it is a far more common one. This is general information, not legal advice.
What it means
Every liability policy has a ceiling. California sets minimum financial responsibility amounts that a driver must carry, and a great many drivers carry exactly the minimum.
When the limits are lower than the loss, the questions change: is there another policy, an employer, an owner, or an umbrella; and is there underinsured motorist coverage on your own side.
This is one of the commonest reasons a firm declines a case that is otherwise strong. It is not a comment on the injury.
Where this is dealt with properly
This entry is the short answer. These pages own the subject.
Common questions
- How do I find out the other driver's limits?
- Insurers will often disclose them on request in an injury claim, and there are mechanisms to compel disclosure. It is one of the first things worth establishing, because it shapes everything after it.
Start a case review call
On a case review call, I go through the facts with you: what happened, when, whether you were hurt, whether anyone represents you, and how to reach you. It is not legal advice, and I will not put a value on your claim.
Sources: Ins. Code, § 11580.1 (required provisions of a motor vehicle liability policy); Veh. Code, § 16056 (minimum financial-responsibility amounts).