Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 17, 2026
Newport Beach Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Lawyer
Newport Beach’s mix of local residents and out-of-town visitors means the driver who causes your accident may carry only the state minimum insurance, or none at all. When that happens, the financial protection you counted on can fall far short of what your injuries actually cost, and the legal process for recovering the difference is genuinely different from a standard car accident claim.
At Younglove Law Group, our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have recovered over $60 million for injured clients throughout California, bringing more than 20 years of combined legal experience to underinsured and uninsured motorist claims. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — California Law Limits Your Window to File
California’s statute of limitations for underinsured and uninsured motorist claims is generally two years from the date of the accident.
Younglove Law Group has recovered over $60 million for injured Californians over more than 20 years of combined legal experience. We handle underinsured and uninsured motorist claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
California’s Minimum Insurance Requirements Increased in 2025
Under Senate Bill 1107, California’s minimum liability insurance requirements increased significantly effective January 1, 2025, rising from $15,000 to $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, from $30,000 to $60,000 per accident, and from $5,000 to $15,000 in property damage coverage. This was the first increase to California’s minimum insurance requirements since 1967. While the higher minimums provide more protection than before, $30,000 can still be exhausted quickly in a serious injury case involving surgery, hospitalization, or extended treatment, leaving a meaningful gap between what the at-fault driver’s policy pays and what your claim is actually worth.
What Happens When the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Isn’t Enough
When the driver who caused your accident carries only the state minimum, or no insurance at all, their policy simply will not cover injuries beyond its limit. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy, which is not legally required in California but must be offered by every insurer, that coverage can step in to cover the gap between what the at-fault driver’s insurance pays and your policy’s own limit.
How Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims Actually Work
A UM or UIM claim is fundamentally different from a standard car accident claim because you are pursuing your own insurance company rather than the at-fault driver’s insurer. These claims are governed by California Insurance Code Section 11580.2, and most policies require them to proceed through binding arbitration rather than a standard civil lawsuit, meaning your case is decided by one or more neutral arbitrators instead of a judge or jury.
It is a common misconception that your own insurer will simply pay what you are owed because you have been a paying customer. In practice, insurers handling UM and UIM claims frequently dispute the value of the claim, the extent of your injuries, or even whether the accident occurred the way you describe, in much the same way a third-party insurer would. Having an attorney who understands the arbitration process and how insurers evaluate these claims internally makes a real difference in the outcome.
Stacking Multiple Policies to Maximize Your Recovery
Depending on your specific policy language and household situation, you may be able to combine, or stack, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage across multiple vehicles insured under the same policy or household. This can significantly increase the total coverage available to you beyond a single vehicle’s per-person limit. Whether stacking is available depends heavily on the specific insurer and policy terms involved, and this is an area where experienced legal review can meaningfully increase your recovery.
Who Can Be Held Liable Beyond the At-Fault Driver
In addition to pursuing your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, other parties may share responsibility depending on the circumstances of your accident, including an employer if the at-fault driver was working, a vehicle owner who permitted an uninsured driver to use their car, or a government entity if a road defect contributed to the crash. Identifying every potential source of recovery is a critical part of maximizing your compensation.
What Compensation Is Available
California law allows injured victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover emergency treatment, hospitalization, ongoing rehabilitation, future medical care, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the lasting impact of your injuries on your daily life. In cases involving a fatality, surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim for the full scope of their loss.
What to Do If You Believe the At-Fault Driver Is Underinsured
- Seek medical attention immediately. Same-day treatment creates the medical record your claim will depend on, regardless of which insurance ultimately pays.
- Obtain the at-fault driver’s insurance information. Even a minimum policy provides a starting point, and confirming the actual coverage amount is an early step in any UM or UIM claim.
- Review your own policy for UM and UIM coverage. If you are unsure whether you carry this coverage or how much, your insurance declarations page will confirm it.
- Notify your own insurer promptly. Most policies require timely notice of a potential UM or UIM claim, separate from simply reporting the accident.
- Do not accept an early settlement offer before speaking with an attorney. Early offers from either insurer are frequently below the true value of your claim.
- Contact Younglove Law Group promptly. Our attorneys evaluate your policy, identify every applicable coverage, and handle the arbitration process on your behalf.
Statute of Limitations for Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most underinsured and uninsured motorist claims must be pursued within two years of the date of the accident, though your specific policy may also impose its own notice requirements separate from this deadline. Missing either deadline can bar your claim permanently.
Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible after your accident to ensure all applicable deadlines are identified and met.
Frequently Asked Questions About Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims
Why does my own insurance company fight my UM or UIM claim?
Even though you have paid premiums to your insurer, they still have a financial incentive to minimize what they pay on a claim, similar to any other insurance company. UM and UIM claims are frequently disputed on the value of injuries or the facts of the accident, which is why experienced representation matters even when you are dealing with your own insurer.
Do UM and UIM claims go to court like a regular lawsuit?
Most policies require UM and UIM disputes to be resolved through binding arbitration rather than a standard civil lawsuit, governed by California Insurance Code Section 11580.2. This means your case is decided by one or more neutral arbitrators rather than a judge or jury, a meaningfully different process than a typical car accident lawsuit.
Can I combine coverage from multiple vehicles or policies?
Depending on your insurer and specific policy language, you may be able to stack UM or UIM coverage across multiple vehicles insured under the same household. Our attorneys review your policy to determine whether stacking applies to your situation and how it can increase your total available recovery.
What if the at-fault driver has the new California minimum insurance?
California’s minimum liability limits increased to $30,000 per person as of January 1, 2025, but this amount can still be exhausted quickly in a serious injury case. If your injuries exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limit, your own underinsured motorist coverage may cover the difference, provided you carry this optional coverage.
How long do I have to file a UM or UIM claim in California?
Most UM and UIM claims must be pursued within two years of the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, though your specific policy may also impose its own notice requirements. Contact an attorney promptly to ensure all applicable deadlines are met.
How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach underinsured motorist lawyer?
Younglove Law Group handles all underinsured and uninsured motorist claims on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all costs of investigating and pursuing your claim. If your case does not resolve in your favor, you owe us nothing.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
We are available 24/7. We care about your situation and want you to understand your legal options.
Younglove Law Group also handles Newport Beach car accident claims, hit-and-run accident claims, pedestrian accident claims, and wrongful death claims throughout the city.
- Client satisfaction is our top priority.
- We pride ourselves on responsiveness and always get back to you the same day you contact us.
- We are a real law firm, not a referral service.
- Your case will be handled by experienced legal professionals.
- Your case will not be passed around with repeated changes to your primary contact.
Contact Younglove Law Group’s Newport Beach Underinsured Motorist Attorneys
Attorney Phillip Younglove earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his B.A. in History from UCLA. Before founding Younglove Law Group, he was a senior attorney at one of the largest personal injury firms in California, where he built a reputation excelling in bad faith insurance claims that most firms consider too complex. That background gives our clients a genuine advantage in UM and UIM disputes, which are fundamentally insurance company negotiations. Combined with over $60 million recovered for injured clients and recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, your claim is handled by attorneys who understand exactly how insurers evaluate these cases internally.
If you were injured by an underinsured or uninsured driver anywhere in Newport Beach, contact Younglove Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your policy, explain your options, and begin building the strongest possible claim on your behalf.