What to Know About Uninsured Motorist Coverage
When thinking through what to do after being involved in a car accident, naturally thinking to get the other person’s car insurance comes up. However, what happens if that person doesn’t have car insurance. Do you have collision insurance that will pay for the damages to your car/? Do you have good health insurance if you experience medical injuries? There are an array of reasons people may or may not want to get uninsured motorist coverage. Let’s take a look.
Uninsured motorist coverage and its counterpart, underinsured motorist coverage, can spare you a lot of out-of-pocket money if you find yourself in an accident with someone uninsured or underinsured. In some states, this coverage is required, while in others, you can get as an optional added portion to your policy to offer yourself more protection while on the road.
Break Down
There are four main types of coverage grouped under uninsured motorist coverage:
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM or UMBI) — pays when an at-fault driver causes a car accident.
- Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) — covers damage to your car if it’s hit by someone without insurance. Some states allow you to use UMPD to cover hit-and-run accidents.
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIM or UIMBI) — pays when another driver causes a car accident but they do not carry enough liability insurance to cover all your medical bills, lost wages, etc.
- Underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD) — covers damage to your car if it’s hit by someone who does not carry enough liability insurance.
When you get car insurance quotes, you’ll usually get uninsured motorist coverage amounts that match your liability coverage limits.
Should You Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Depending on where you live, you may be required to purchase uninsured motorist coverage. Check out the map below to see where your state falls.
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If your state doesn’t require uninsured motorist coverage, you may still be wondering if you should get it. There are a few things you should consider when deciding if you should get uninsured motorist coverage. Researching how many drivers in your state don’t have car insurance is an important aspect to factor in. In Florida, there 26.7% of uninsured drivers while in Georgia, there’s 12%. Also, the primary purpose of uninsured motorist coverage is to pay for medical bills when involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver. If you have good health insurance, you may not need uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is a way to cover car accident injuries without paying co-insurance, copays, and health insurance deductibles.
If you’re in a car accident and the at-fault driver doesn’t have any or enough liability insurance, contact your car insurance company and file a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage. If you or someone you know has been involved in a collision and are seeking help, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.