Almost one in seven drivers is uninsured, and many more are underinsured (Insurance Research Council). Pennsylvania state law states that you must have car insurance, but the minimum requirements won’t cover very much, and you might find yourself facing a tremendous amount of expenses if you have to go to the emergency room or require serious treatment. This is why it’s such a good idea to have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM). This is optional when you purchase insurance, but for just a little bit extra, it can be an invaluable resource when you get into an accident with someone who has no insurance or inadequate insurance to cover your damages.
The Importance of UIM
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage will cover yourself and anyone in your household if there is ever a car accident that causes injuries and damages with someone who doesn’t have insurance or who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your injuries and losses. Whether you are involved in the accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, you will be covered. Even if you are the victim of a hit-and-run, underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage will be there to cover the expenses.
Most auto injury attorneys in Pennsylvania recommend the following in UIM Coverage:
- $100,000 per person
- $300,000 per accident
This is usually enough to protect yourself and loved ones from injuries where the at-fault party does not have the insurance to meet the recovery that you need to address your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, etc. If you don’t have this insurance, you should contact your insurance agent today because you can change your policy whenever you want to.
How Does Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work?
If an uninsured driver hits you, what will happen if you have UIM coverage? If you have it at the recommended amounts, then your own insurance is going to cover your expenses, losses, and non-economic damages up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. You can also choose to stack your coverage and get even more coverage than this. If you don’t have UIM Coverage, then your only option to recover your damages will be to sue the at-fault driver. Unfortunately, if the driver isn’t paying for insurance coverage, there’s a good chance that he or she won’t have the money to pay you even if you do win the lawsuit. That means you’ll be paying your own expenses.
Contact a Pennsylvania auto accident attorney to learn more about UIM coverage.