Understanding Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Understanding car insurance can be complex, because there are many types of insurance backed by various policies. As everyday drivers, auto insurance plays an essential part in protecting everyone on the road. While we are meant to be extremely vigilant while operating a vehicle, at times its other vehicles that put us at risk while on the road. Uninsured Motorist Coverage or UM coverage is unique insurance that covers expenses for you or passengers if you experience bodily injuries, property damage, or overall pain and suffering at the hands of an uninsured or underinsured motorist. This branch of insurance is not mandatory in every state – it is an additional purchase by the insurance holder. UM coverage is one of the branches of coverage that falls under full coverage.
The Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist
An uninsured motorist does not have access to liability coverage. About 1 in 8 vehicles on the road are uninsured. Underinsured motorists are covered with liability insurance, but liability often does not offer enough coverage to cover all expenses. An uninsured or underinsured status is not only dangerous for drivers with no insurance but for other vehicles on the road. If you are a victim of an underinsured or uninsured motorist accident you may be forced to cover out-of-pocket expenses for all damages. Uninsured Motorist coverage protects drivers from this situation. With this additional coverage, you can ensure that no matter who hits you, you will still be covered.
Liability Coverage
Liability Coverage is the most basic type of auto insurance and is required for anyone operating a vehicle in most states. Liability insurance is purchased to cover any bodily injuries and property damages that occurred to the other party as a result of a car accident. Liability is required to protect all drivers from at-fault vehicles. This coverage does not cover any of the at-fault parties’ injuries or property damage.
Every policy is unique to its driver, and some policies offer more coverage than others. You can have liability coverage but if it does not hold enough money to fully cover the cost of other parties’ damages, you are considered underinsured.
Bodily Injury & Property Damage
Bodily injury in a vehicle accident can be defined as any harm or injury done to a person’s physical body. Some examples of this are broken bones, cuts, burns, internal injuries or impairment, or anything else that alters your physical health.
Property damage is considered physical damage to any form of tangible property. When a vehicle accident occurs, there is often a large number of damages to either one or both vehicles involved in the incident. Property damage can also happen to surrounding buildings and objects at the accident’s location.
Life is unexpected, and full coverage insurance can give drivers and vehicle owners peace of mind on the road. Specifically, the addition of Uninsured Motorist coverage will protect you and those in your car from damages or injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. If you have been in a vehicle accident your vehicle is not at fault, contact a vehicle accident lawyer to work through your case. You may be eligible to receive more compensation than insurance companies come forward with. The offices of Rob Levine & Associates handle vehicle accident cases throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
