Liability insurance defends a person or business from claims for damages by another entity. One can of course live without it in Los Angeles, but it is prudent to avail of this protection because it may turn out to be useful. The insurance company takes on the risk of damages being claimed from you for a consideration, which is usually called a ‘premium.’

It is mandatory that drivers carry liability insurance. If you are hit by another vehicle, that party’s liability insurance pays for your damages. But what happens if that person doesn’t have one? This is a realistic scenario in Los Angeles, where one out of three drivers don’t have liability insurance, according to police estimates. It is generally considered that people without insurance normally do not have meaningful assets. In such cases you will be protected if you have Uninsured Motorist Insurance (UMI). There are two parts to it – personal injury and property damage. Both can be covered. To encourage drivers to obtain liability insurance, a low-cost scheme for those who have no more than one endorsement on their licenses has been introduced in Los Angeles and San Francisco, through government initiatives.