Unfortunately, you cannot count on the "other guy" to look out for your best interest. Having uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects the most important person: You! Although it is illegal to drive in California without insurance, "Uninsured" Motorist Coverage provides coverage for you, through your own policy, in the event you are in an accident with an uninsured party. Similarly, "Underinsured" Motorist Coverage provides coverage for you in the event that you are in an accident with a party that has insurance, but in an insufficient amount to fully compensate you for your injuries or damages. The higher the limit of your coverage, the more protection you will be afforded. A couple of other benefits are that Uninsured/Underinsured claims are generally less adversarial since the claim is made to the insured's own company and it is against the law for an insurance company to raise your rates for making an uninsured/underinsured claim.