Under the Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, all vehicles that are driven on California roads should have liability insurance that provides financial responsibility for any injury or damage that is brought about by a traffic accident regardless of who is at fault.

This passage of the law is also a means for the California government to remove uninsured vehicles from its highways.

California vehicle owners can choose from four types of financial responsibility options which are:

• Car accident insurance policy with liability coverage

• A cash deposit of $35,000 to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

• A DMV issued self-insurance certificate

• A surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California.

All vehicles on California roads must obtain and maintain any of the above forms of financial responsibility whether the car is parked or operated.

An evidence of financial responsibility should always be in the vehicle at all times.

Acceptable proofs of financial responsibility are:

• A document or identification card from the car accident insurance company

• A DMV authorization letter, if the motorist is self-insured or a cash depositor

• A California Proof of Insurance Certificate

Most motorists choose to obtain car accident insurance policies to fulfill the financial responsibility requirements.

The minimum liability insurance coverage for private passenger vehicles in California is:

• $15,000 for injury or death to one person

• $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person

• $5,000 for property damage

An optional choice is the uninsured motorist coverage, where the policy holder can be compensated by their own insurance company if the liable party has no car accident insurance.

If the motorist chooses to avail of uninsured motorist coverage, he/she is required to purchase an amount equal to at least the minimum liability coverage for bodily injuries.

In addition, if a motorist avails of uninsured motorist coverage, he/she is required to purchase underinsured motorist coverage as well and it should also be at least equal to the minimum liability coverage for bodily injuries.

Driving without car accident insurance or any other forms of financial responsibility can be penalized by the DMV.

Vehicle registrations could be suspended if:

• The DMV is not notified that a car accident insurance policy has been cancelled and a replacement policy has not been submitted after 45 days.

• The car accident insurance information has not been submitted to the DMV within the issuance of a registration card.

• The DMV discovered that the vehicle registration was obtained by giving a false evidence of insurance.

Aside from suspension of registration, a motorist failing to provide proof of financial responsibility may cause a motorist to be punished through:

• Citation with fines that could reach $1,000 or more

• Impounding of vehicle plus fines

• Personal liability for damages if the motorist caused the accident which could lead to a seizure of some personal assets

Uninsured motorists are considered hazards on the road and that is why the government is working hard on cracking down on these irresponsible drivers.

If you were injured in a road accident where the liable party has insufficient or no insurance, consult immediately with a car accident attorney to help with your options.

About The Author

To help you deal with issues on car accident insurance policy, consult with our expert car accident lawyers. Visit our website at http://www.caraccidentlawyerpros.com/ and avail of our free case analysis.


Vehicle crashes and collisions is one of the leading causes of injuries and death in the United States.

It could come in many forms and can hit you on any side of your car.

Here are the different types of vehicle crash and collisions:

Head-On Collision

This type of car accident is usually fatal. Although, it only accounts for about 2 percent of all vehicular accidents, it is responsible for 10% of all related fatalities.

This is because of the relatively high velocities of the two opposing vehicles. It is said that the damage from a head on collision between two cars travelling at 50 mph is comparable to the damage to a car that collided with a stationary object at 100 mph.

Typical injuries include broken bones, spinal and backbone damage, and head and brain injuries.

Rear End Collisions

This refers to accidents where in a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it.

This is one of the most common types of vehicle collision. It usually occurs if the driver of the rear car is not able to stop or has no room to avoid the vehicle in front of it.

This is usually caused when:

• The front car suddenly slams on the brakes

• The front car suddenly decelerates

• The front car is stopped by a collision with another vehicle or object

• The rear car is tailgating

A common injury suffered from rear end auto accidents is whiplash injuries where the body snaps like a whip following the collision.

Rollover

This refers to auto accidents where the vehicle turned over its side or roof.

Sports utility vehicles are notorious for being highly susceptible to rollover accidents.

SUVs in general have higher suspensions to accommodate the vehicle’s four-wheel drive feature. As a result, the center of gravity of SUVs is also higher compared to other passenger cars.

Rollover accidents have a high risk of causing paralysis, brain injuries and even death.

Seventy percent of all who died due to rollovers have been ejected from the vehicle because they were not wearing a seatbelt.

Run-Off Road Collisions

This is a single-vehicle accident that happens when a car leaves the roadway and then crashes to an object or rolls over.

The usual causes of run-off road accidents are:

• Loss of control of vehicle

• Blown out tires

• Misjudging a curve

• Attempting to avoid collision with another vehicle, pedestrians or animals

Statistics show that off-road crashes caused 31% of all fatal crashes even though it only accounts for 16% of all vehicle accidents.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

This refers to accidents where vehicles collide with a pedestrian or a bicycle.

This is usually caused by motorists not respecting the right of way of pedestrians or bicyclists.

Another cause of this type of vehicular accident is low visibility on roads, especially at night.

Getting Help

If you are injured as a result of any of the above mentioned types of collision, you should consult with an expert car accident attorney to help you with your legal options.

About The Author

To help you deal with issues involved in rear end auto accidents, consult with our personal injury lawyers. Log on to our website at http://www.personalinjurydefenders.com/ and avail of our free case analysis.

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