California state law imposes numerous requirements on those who drive. People need to have a state-issued license. They need to register their vehicles with the state. They also have a legal obligation to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.
Despite those rules, many people drive without insurance. They may take for granted that they can avoid collisions or afford any damage they cause. Increased cost-of-living expenses and other factors have contributed to a statistically noticeable increase in the number of uninsured drivers in California in recent years.
Uninsured drivers endanger everyone
People who drive without insurance might think that the only risk is the chance of getting a ticket. However, if they cause a collision, they have no way to cover collision expenses other than paying out of pocket. Other people may have to file lawsuits to hold drivers accountable when they cause crashes without insurance.
According to recent research, the percentage of uninsured drivers in California has increased noticeably in the last few years. In 2022, California wasn’t even in the top ten states for uninsured drivers. In 2023, California had the eighth-highest rate of uninsured motorists in the nation, which was 20.4%.
Roughly one in five drivers may lack mandatory coverage at any given time. Some people can obtain compensation for crashes by filing lawsuits against uninsured drivers. They may also be able to pursue a third-party claim in scenarios where outside parties, such as a driver’s employer or a vehicle manufacturer, may have a degree of collision liability.
Understanding that the chances of a car crash caused by an uninsured driver are higher than they were a few years ago can help everyone make safer choices. Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are all vulnerable to financial losses after a crash without available liability insurance coverage.
