Generally yes. When the at-fault driver cannot be identified, your own UM coverage is often the only realistic source of compensation for your injuries.

A typical policy bundles separate coverages: liability (pays others you injure), collision and comprehensive (your vehicle), medical payments, and uninsured/underinsured motorist (your injuries when the at-fault driver can't pay). Each has its own limits.

No. Liability pays people you injure. Your own injuries are covered by the at-fault driver's liability coverage — or by your own med-pay and uninsured motorist coverage when theirs falls short.

No — but insurers are required to offer it, and you must reject it in writing. Given how many Southern California drivers carry no insurance or bare minimums, declining it leaves you unprotected in the most common worst-case scenario.

No. UM/UIM coverage must be on your policy before the crash happens. It cannot be added retroactively, which is why reviewing your policy now matters.

As of January 1, 2025, California requires at least $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Those minimums rarely cover a serious injury.