It is estimated that one in seven Sacramento drivers has no automobile insurance. Unfortunately, that estimate ignores the significantly more significant number of drivers who have too little insurance to compensate victims for their injuries suffered in a car accident.
There are some excellent possible remedies for a car accident involving a driver with too little or no insurance. In California, not only is the driver of a vehicle responsible if their negligence causes an accident, but the owner may also be responsible if the driver is a permissive user. Consequently, if a car is loaned or rented to a friend or third party, and the third party is in an accident, then that vehicle’s owner is also responsible for damages.
Recently, the driver of a U-Haul truck drove the truck through a home wall where an infant had been sleeping. Fortunately, the child was unharmed, with the U-Haul stopping just feet away. However, the U-Haul caused significant damage to the home, and the driver fled the scene.
“The truck stopped mere feet from a crib where 4-month-old Charlotte slept. ‘We heard her crying, so we knew she was alive, but we just wanted to get her out of the room,’ Murray said.
Intuition kicked in again: Murray and his wife doing whatever they could to protect their child.’ As we pulled her out, the engine was still revving, so we didn’t know if he was trying to come in more, was he backing up,’ Murray said.”
While the driver fled, unless the U-Haul had been stolen, the U-Haul company will likely be liable for the property damages caused and potentially emotional distress damages, if applicable. Unfortunately, however, there are limits on the liability an owner is responsible for, so it is essential to maintain underinsured motorist coverage on your vehicle and homeowners or renters insurance on your residence.
If you would like to speak with a personal injury attorney about damages caused by a driver who may not have been insured, please do not hesitate to contact one of our injury attorneys at Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation.
