Do You Have Enough Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance?
Auto accidents involving drivers who have little or no insurance are common.
According to insurance industry statistics, nearly 15% of all
drivers do not carry insurance. In some states, the percentage
of uninsured drivers is as high as 25%. People who are in an
auto accident with a driver who has little or no insurance are often
shocked to learn they will recover little money (often none at all)
for their injuries and losses. Fortunately, there is an easy and inexpensive
way for you to help avoid this tragic situation — have
enough uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance. Here is a
brief explanation of each.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
This protects you in the event a
person who causes an accident and injures you has no insurance or is
a hit-and-run driver. It lets you collect money from your own insurance
company for your injuries and losses, including your medical expenses,
lost wages and pain and suffering.
To benefit from this valuable protection, you must have it as part
of your auto insurance policy.
Uninsured motorist insurance can be one of the best auto coverages
you buy, as it can provide a great deal of protection usually at a low
cost. Without the protection of uninsured motorist insurance,
if you are in an accident with an uninsured or hit and run driver,
your chances of recovering money for your injuries and losses are
usually very low.
Underinsured Motorist Insurance
This protects you in the event a
driver injures you and does not have enough insurance to pay for all
your injuries and losses. For example, he or she may carry only the
minimum amount of insurance required by law, but it may not cover
all your injuries and losses. Your underinsured motorist insurance
will protect you so that you will be fully compensated for your
injuries and losses (up to the amount of your coverage).
Underinsured motorist coverage also must be part of your own auto
insurance policy. It is also usually inexpensive and can make the
difference between being fully compensated for your accident
injuries and losses or not receiving enough money and bearing a
large portion of the losses yourself.
The worst time to find out you don’t have the right auto insurance is
after an accident. So take a moment and review your auto insurance policies to make
sure you have enough uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance.
You will be glad you did, and can have the peace of mind knowing
that you are protected in case of an accident with an
uninsured, underinsured or hit-and-run driver. And if you are
in such an accident and want to make a claim under your insurance
policy, call us. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance
claims can be complex, and rules can vary between states about how
these claims are made. We will help make sure the proper steps
are taken and that you receive all you are entitled to obtain under
your auto insurance policy.
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