Uninsured Motorist Coverage: How it Protects You

How Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage Protects You When Someone Hits You And That Person Has No Coverage or Low Limit Coverage

Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage will protect you when you are involved in an auto accident and the at-fault driver 1) does not have insurance; 2) does not have enough insurance coverage; or 3) cannot be identified (as in a hit and run). In Florida, where there are a high number of uninsured or underinsured drivers, it is important for you to purchase UM coverage for your auto insurance policy. This is a supplement to your auto insurance policy. If you are unsure if you have uninsured motorist coverage or how it protects you reach out to your insurance agent today to check your policy.

UM Insurance Claims

With UM coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurance company if you’re hit by a driver that doesn’t have car insurance or that has limited insurance. This can help you recover your medical expenses and additional damages.

If you do not have UM coverage and the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries, you can end up paying out of pocket for most of your medical expenses. Often, an underinsured motorist also does not have any assets. This means that even if you sued them personally and won your case, that at-fault driver would not be able to pay the judgment against them. You would still be stuck with your medical bills. UM coverage will protect you in this common situation.

If you are certain that an individual has the assets available to pay for your accident and your injuries, you should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your options and consider filing a lawsuit. However, in most cases, UM coverage is much safer and is usually a less drawn-out process.

When you file a UM claim, you are making a claim against your own insurance company to pay for the damages caused by a driver who did not have enough insurance coverage. You need to be aware of the amount of coverage, aka the limits of liability, when you purchase UM coverage. In most instances, the limits of liability are the maximum amount that could be paid to you under the policy. You want to be sure you have enough coverage to pay your bills should you have a serious injury.

If you were injured in an accident caused by another driver, contact us today for more information. An experienced personal injury attorney will review and search for all available insurance coverage options, they will negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf, and they will work with your medical providers to ensure you receive the maximum about of benefits owed to you.

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