What Is SB 1107 and How Does It Affect Sacramento Crash Claims?
Senate Bill 1107 is a California law that reshapes auto insurance coverage for people injured in car accidents across the state, including Sacramento. If you were hurt in a collision caused by someone else’s negligence, SB 1107 may affect your compensation by doubling minimum liability coverage requirements and updating underinsured motorist (UIM) provisions. Understanding these changes can help you protect your rights and pursue full recovery.
If you have questions about how this law applies to your situation, The Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes can help. Call 916-706-1351 or reach out online to discuss your claim today.
How SB 1107 Changes California Auto Insurance Law
SB 1107 doubles the minimum liability coverage drivers must carry and updates Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage provisions under California law. Previously, California required minimum liability limits of $15,000 per person for bodily injury, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage. Starting January 1, 2025, those minimums increased to $30,000/$60,000/$15,000, with a further increase to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 scheduled for January 1, 2035.
This california auto insurance law change means at-fault drivers now carry higher baseline coverage, benefiting injured victims. For people filing a car accident claim in Sacramento CA, higher minimums translate to more insurance funds potentially available for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The law also amended financial responsibility requirements under Vehicle Code Section 16056 and related assigned risk plan provisions to match these increased minimums.
| Coverage Type | Old Minimums (Pre-2025) | New Minimums (Jan. 1, 2025) | Future Minimums (Jan. 1, 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Per Person | $15,000 | $30,000 | $50,000 |
| Bodily Injury Per Accident | $30,000 | $60,000 | $100,000 |
| Property Damage | $5,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
What Changed for Underinsured Motorist Coverage Under SB 1107
Beyond raising liability minimums, SB 1107 updated provisions within California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 that govern underinsured motorist coverage. Under California’s UIM framework, if you carry UIM coverage and the at-fault driver’s policy pays you something, your insurer may take a credit for that amount when calculating its obligation. With doubled liability limits, the at-fault driver’s policy now covers a greater share of your damages, changing the UIM calculation.
How the Increased Minimums Help Injured Drivers
Injured parties benefit from a larger initial payout from the at-fault driver’s policy before UIM coverage triggers. For example, if your damages total $80,000, the at-fault driver’s minimum policy now pays up to $30,000 rather than the old $15,000 minimum. While your UIM insurer may still apply a credit for amounts you received, the higher baseline coverage increases total insurance funds available across both sources. This is meaningful for Sacramento residents dealing with serious crash injuries.
How Multiple Policies May Apply to Your Claim
California law allows multiple insurance policies to apply to a single accident depending on your coverage and specific crash facts. If you are insured under more than one policy, additional coverage may be available, subject to applicable policy language, priority rules, and Insurance Code Section 11580.2 provisions. Multiple coverages can be particularly important when injuries are severe and a single policy’s limits fall short.
💡 Pro Tip: Review your own auto insurance policy now to confirm your UIM limits. The Consumer Attorneys of California recommends that consumers purchase UIM insurance with limits equal to their policy limits to fully protect themselves after a crash.
Why These Changes Matter for Sacramento Injury Claim Compensation
Many California drivers previously carried only the old minimum liability limits, which SB 1107 has now doubled. For anyone pursuing sacramento injury claim compensation, this means more insurance money should be available in many claims, since at-fault drivers previously had coverage too low to fully compensate crash victims.
California also has an uninsured motorist rate of approximately 20.4 percent, well above the national average of approximately 15.4 percent (as of the most recent 2023 data from the Insurance Research Council). Even with higher minimums, many Sacramento drivers carry no insurance at all. If you are hit by an uninsured driver, your own uninsured motorist coverage becomes critical. Under Section 11580.2, California auto insurers must offer uninsured motorist coverage with every bodily injury liability policy, and policyholders who decline it must do so through written rejection as specified by statute.
💡 Pro Tip: If you were hit by a driver with no insurance, you may still have legal options. Learn more about whether you can sue an uninsured driver after a Sacramento car crash.
Filing Deadlines That Apply to Your Car Accident Claim in Sacramento CA
California law imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury and property damage claims after a car accident. Under California’s statute of limitations, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit and three years for property damage claims. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation.
The Discovery Rule and Delayed-Onset Injuries
In limited circumstances, the discovery rule may extend your filing deadline when injuries are not immediately apparent. California courts recognize that sometimes an injury or its cause is not discovered right away. When that happens, the statute may begin running from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. However, courts interpret this exception narrowly, and you should not rely on this rule without consulting an attorney about your specific case facts.
💡 Pro Tip: Document everything from the moment of your crash. Preserving medical records, photographs, police reports, and witness statements strengthens your claim and helps establish when injuries first appeared. You can review California’s statute of limitations deadlines for more details.
How a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento California Can Help After SB 1107
Navigating SB 1107’s changes, insurance company tactics, and California filing deadlines requires careful legal analysis. Insurance adjusters may not voluntarily explain how higher coverage minimums and UIM provisions affect your claim. A car accident lawyer in Sacramento California can evaluate whether SB 1107 increases available coverage and help you pursue every dollar you deserve.
An experienced attorney can identify all applicable insurance policies, calculate your full damages, and handle insurer negotiations. This includes reviewing the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, your own UIM and uninsured motorist policies, and any additional recovery sources. For crashes involving serious injuries, understanding versus overlooking these provisions can make a substantial difference.
💡 Pro Tip: Do not accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without first understanding how SB 1107’s changes and your UIM coverage options affect your claim. What seems like a fair offer may fall well short of what you can recover under the updated law.
Steps to Protect Your Sacramento Car Accident Claim
Taking the right steps immediately after a crash strengthens your ability to recover full compensation. Consider the following actions:
- Seek medical attention promptly, even if injuries seem minor, since some conditions develop over days or weeks
- Gather evidence at the scene, including photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries
- Obtain the police report and collect witness contact information
- Notify your insurance company about the accident, but avoid giving recorded statements before speaking with an attorney
- Keep detailed records of medical treatment, out-of-pocket expenses, and missed work
Each of these steps builds a stronger foundation for proving negligence and damages. Establishing the four elements of negligence, duty, breach, causation, and damages, remains central to any Sacramento car accident claim regardless of insurance law changes.
💡 Pro Tip: Be cautious when speaking with the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster. Their goal is to minimize payouts. Anything you say, including casual comments about feeling "fine," can be used to reduce your claim’s value.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does SB 1107 do for California drivers injured in car accidents?
SB 1107 doubles the minimum liability coverage that drivers must carry and updates underinsured motorist coverage provisions under Insurance Code Section 11580.2. Higher at-fault driver minimums mean more insurance funds are available to injured parties before UIM coverage is needed. An attorney can review your policies to determine how these changes apply to your claim.
2. When did the new california insurance minimums for 2025 take effect?
The increased minimums of $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 took effect on January 1, 2025. A second increase to $50,000/$100,000/$25,000 is scheduled for January 1, 2035.
3. How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Sacramento?
California generally allows two years from the date of injury for personal injury claims and three years for property damage claims. In narrow circumstances, the discovery rule may adjust the start date if injuries were not immediately apparent. Courts interpret these exceptions carefully, so timely action is important.
4. Can I stack my UIM coverage from multiple vehicles under SB 1107?
California Insurance Code Section 11580.2 generally limits stacking of UIM coverage across vehicles on the same policy. However, depending on your policy terms and circumstances, additional coverage from a separate policy may apply. An attorney can review your specific policies to determine available coverage.
5. What should I do if the at-fault driver has no insurance?
If the at-fault driver is uninsured, your own uninsured motorist coverage may be your primary recovery source. California law requires insurers to offer this coverage with every bodily injury liability policy, though policyholders may reject it through written waiver. A sacramento car accident attorney can help you identify all available coverage options and pursue compensation.
Moving Forward After a Sacramento Car Accident
SB 1107 represents a meaningful shift in how California handles auto insurance minimums and their effect on underinsured motorist claims. For Sacramento crash victims, these changes may increase total compensation available through both the at-fault driver’s policy and your own UIM coverage. However, every case depends on its unique facts, and insurance companies do not always apply these provisions in your favor without a fight.
The Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes is ready to help you understand your rights under SB 1107 and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call 916-706-1351 or contact us today for a consultation about your car accident claim.