Under California law, which is applicable in the city of Los Angeles, all drivers must have a minimum level of insurance coverage on their vehicle. This minimum is generally referred to as 15/30/5. There was a law which was voted upon by California residents called the "California Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law" which enabled California to determine the basic amount of insurance required for cars, trucks, motorcycles and commercial vehicles who are registered here.
Specifically, this law requires everyone who lives in this state and drives their cars here to be financially responsible while they drive their car and if they caused an
auto accident. This law also requires you to show a police officer or a law enforcement officer proof of car insurance while you are in California. To satisfy this law, a driver of a car or other motor vehicle must prove they can pay a predetermined minimum amount for any injuries or damage they cause to others while they are operating their car. This law also extends to drivers who are borrowing or operating a vehicle which doesn't belong to them, even if the vehicle is uninsured.
The present minimums for someone driving their car in Los Angeles is 15/30/5. These numbers represent the minimum amounts required for three types of insurance coverage while driving in California. All of the amounts are in thousands of dollars.
- The first amount is $15,000 - which is the minimum required to cover bodily injury and / or death to one person injured in a car accident.
- The second amount is $30,000 - which is the minimum required to cover bodily injury and / or death to multiple people injured during the car accident. Therefore, if two people were in a car, the total they could both recover under such a policy would be a total of $30,000.
- The last amount of $5,000 is the minimum required to cover property damage resulting from the car accident. Where they could only recover up to $5,000 from you to repair their vehicle.
If you have been seriously injured in a Los Angeles auto accident where you have sustained injuries in excess of these minimum insurance requirements, please contact our lawyers to discuss what options you have in receiving compensation by calling us at 800-715-4489!