While almost every state requires drivers to have auto insurance in order to be legal, there are still plenty of uninsured drivers on the road. Often, an uninsured driver will flee the scene of an accident before you can get their personal information. This is usually so they do not have to face criminal charges for driving without auto insurance.
According to the Insurance Research Council,which conducted a study in 2016, almost one in eight drivers, or 13% of drivers on the road, are driving without auto insurance. This means that if you are in accident with one of these drivers they will not be covering any injuries or damages to you or your vehicle.
And, if you do not have sufficient coverage on your own policy, you may find yourself paying out-of-pocket for all the associated costs for a car accident. This can be especially frustrating when it is an accident that you didn’t cause. This is a good reason to consider adding uninsured/underinsured motorist protection to your own policy.
Protection Against Uninsured Drivers
For states that require auto insurance, some also require you to buy coverage for uninsured and underinsured drivers. Even if your state does not require this coverage, it might be a good idea to add this type of coverage to your policy to protect yourself.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will help protect you when it comes to both personal bodily injury and property damage. Essentially, uninsured motorist coverage is used to pay for damages that would have been paid by the other person’s insurance company, if they had car insurance.
Uninsured versus Underinsured Auto Insurance Coverage
-
- What and how you can recover damages can be quite different, depending on whether the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
- Uninsured motorist coverage applies when you are hit by a driver who has no insurance at all. In some cases, a hit and run accident can be covered under uninsured motorist protection.
- Underinsured drivers are those that have auto insurance but not enough to cover all of the financial obligations that arise from injuries and damages.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can help you to recover if you get into an accident with one of these types of drivers. This type of coverage protects you both financially and physically.
Getting into a car accident is a hassle, no matter what. But, if you are involved with a driver who doesn’t have auto insurance, it can be a huge headache if you have not taken the steps to be properly covered yourself.
If you want the best protection, it makes sense to take a minute and use the InsuranceWins quote form to find out just how little it will cost to add uninsured/underinsured motorist protection to your own policy.
