Uninsured motorist lawyer in Los Angeles: Former Insurance Defense Attorneys
An uninsured driver can leave you facing medical bills with no liability insurer to contact. We review your own coverage and explain how to pursue a bodily injury claim.
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At a Glance
- What it is: a bodily injury claim under available uninsured motorist coverage after a driver without insurance causes a crash.
- Where we help: our Los Angeles office assists injured drivers and passengers throughout Los Angeles County.
- Why us: David Lederer and John Nojima bring their former insurance defense experience to disputes with your own carrier.
- Proof: the firm has a 4.5-star rating from 41 Google reviews.
- Next step: call (310) 312-1860 to discuss your accident and policy without an upfront attorney fee.
Quick Answer
You must show that coverage applies, that an uninsured driver caused your injuries, and what those injuries cost you. California Insurance Code section 11580.2 governs uninsured motorist coverage, including procedures that can affect your right to payment. Your carrier can dispute fault or damages even though you pay its premiums. A lawyer reviews both the accident evidence and the policy before demanding benefits.
Uninsured motorist lawyer in Los Angeles from Lederer & Nojima is for people who were injured by drivers without liability insurance and want to pursue available coverage, so you can address medical bills without guessing what your own insurer owes.
Start with the policy that applied on the accident date. A declarations page lists coverage selections and limits, but endorsements and exclusions can change the answer. Your status as a driver, passenger or household member matters. We ask for the complete policy and any coverage rejection before advising you that uninsured motorist benefits apply.
Hiring an uninsured motorist attorney in California also means proving the underlying collision. The absence of insurance does not establish the other driver's fault. Witness accounts, vehicle damage and medical records still matter. We assess the driver's conduct and the connection between the impact and your injuries before presenting a demand.
David Lederer and John Nojima formerly represented insurance companies. That background informs how they examine requests for records and challenges to treatment. An adjuster's disagreement is not proof that your claim lacks value, but a demand needs evidence that addresses the actual reason for the dispute.
Former Insurance Defense
David Lederer and John Nojima used to defend insurers. Now they use that knowledge to pressure carriers that try to delay, discount, or deny injury claims.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay no upfront attorney fee. Our attorney fee comes from the recovery. If we do not recover, there is no attorney fee, and the written agreement explains how case costs are handled.
Free Consultation 24/7
Call any time after an injury. We can protect evidence, deal with insurers, and explain your next move before deadlines pass.
What can prevent an uninsured motorist claim from getting paid?
A disputed coverage decision
The carrier may question who qualifies as an insured or whether another policy applies. We compare its explanation with the policy language and accident facts. Keep the denial letter and the envelope or email that came with it. A verbal explanation from an adjuster does not replace a written account of the carrier's position.
Fault without an insured opponent
Your insurer may argue that you caused the collision or could have avoided it. We seek scene photographs, available camera footage and independent witnesses rather than relying on the uninsured driver's version. California comparative fault can reduce damages when you share responsibility, so the evidence must address each driver's actions.
An injury valuation below the records
Medical bills show only part of an injury. We review the treatment timeline, work restrictions and your doctor's assessment of future needs. The carrier may attribute symptoms to an earlier condition or question a treatment gap. Explain those circumstances to your lawyer and clinician rather than trying to rewrite the history.
What does California law require for uninsured motorist coverage?
Insurance Code section 11580.2 sets California's uninsured motorist framework. It addresses coverage for injury caused by uninsured vehicles and the process for resolving disputes over fault and damages. Coverage has limits and exceptions. An unidentified hit-and-run vehicle raises additional requirements, so tell counsel at once if the driver fled or if there was no contact between vehicles.
A civil injury lawsuit against a negligent driver ordinarily falls under the two-year period in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Protecting a UM claim involves separate statutory and policy procedures; opening a claim file alone may not preserve it. We review the steps needed to protect your rights rather than treating an adjuster's ongoing correspondence as an extension.
What should I do after an uninsured driver injures me?
- 1
Get medical attention
Describe your symptoms and how the collision happened. Follow the care instructions you receive and tell your provider about new symptoms. Your health comes before collecting paperwork.
- 2
Report the crash and keep identifiers
Obtain the report number and record the driver's name, plate number and contact information if you can do so safely. Do not chase a driver who leaves the scene.
- 3
Save the scene evidence
Keep original photographs, dashcam files and witness details. Back up recordings before a device overwrites them, and note where nearby businesses may have cameras.
- 4
Notify your own carrier
Report the collision under your policy's notice requirements. Keep a copy of the notice and claim number. Avoid guessing about speed, fault or a medical diagnosis.
- 5
Arrange a policy review
Bring the declarations page, carrier messages and any insurance information from the other driver to a free consultation. Ask which deadlines require action and who will take that action.
What losses can uninsured motorist benefits address?
- Reasonable medical expenses tied to the collision, supported by treatment records and billing information.
- Future medical needs that a qualified clinician connects to the crash rather than speculative treatment estimates.
- Income you lost while injuries kept you from working, with payroll or business records to support the loss.
- Reduced earning capacity when lasting limitations affect the work you can perform.
- Pain and the effect of injuries on ordinary activities, subject to coverage and applicable law.
- Available benefits within the policy limits after considering relevant offsets and other payments, without assuming duplicate recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a claim against the company I pay premiums to?
What if the driver shows an expired insurance card?
Will this cover repairs to my car too?
Does a hit-and-run accident qualify?
Do I need money to hire the firm?
Where is the Lederer & Nojima office?
Our office is at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Call (310) 312-1860 to schedule a free consultation, or see our Google Business Profile for directions and reviews.
Legal references
General information, not legal advice. Primary sources for the rules described on this page:
Related Practice Areas
Lederer & Nojima, LLP
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 312-1860
Results may vary. Every case is unique. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Call Lederer & Nojima at (310) 312-1860 for a free review of your uninsured driver accident and available coverage.
Former insurance defense attorneys. No fee unless we win.