Everything You Need to Know About Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Driving peacefully along a roadway only to see a car suddenly jump into your lane from the side is a jarring experience, one that is only made worse if they hit your car making this move Finding out that the driver who caused the accident is uninsured only complicates the matter as well. Consider the fact that 14% of motorists on Texas roadways have no insurance, there is plenty of reason to learn everything there is to know about uninsured motorist coverage and whether it’s right for you.

Different Types of Car Insurance

Many drivers have no clue that there are actually different types of car insurance which can be included in a policy. Uninsured motorist coverage is just one of many different types that drivers can choose from. These primary different types of car insurance include:

1. Liability Coverage: Required for all drivers to have and covers damages that occur to another person’s property or body as a result of a car accident.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: Covers any form of damage to your vehicle that may result from natural events, rather than an accident, such as trees falling.
3. Collision Coverage: Offers coverage to your vehicle in the event there was an accident you were involved in, whether that be colliding with another vehicle or an object such as a fence.
4. Medical Payments Coverage: Either required or optional depending on the state you are in but will cover payments related to medical costs for you or passengers in the vehicle.
5. Personal Injury Protection Coverage: Only offered in some states, but offers additional coverage, such as for lost wages, that result from medical related injuries.
6. Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Finally, uninsured motorist coverage offers financial compensation when you are in an accident with a driver who has no insurance.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover?

While the overarching description for this insurance seems basic enough, it can be confusing to understand what is actually covered under uninsured motorist insurance coverage. This coverage specifically offers compensation for repair costs or total loss coverage on your vehicle in the event you are in an accident with someone who is driving without insurance. It will also offer coverage for medical expenses, but these coverage items vary from state-to-state. Oftentimes, uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage are combined in a policy.

The latter refers to a driver who has insurance, but their policy does not offer enough coverage to adequately pay for the damages to your vehicle. In this situation, underinsured motorist coverage would potentially kick in and help to cover the difference.

Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required by Law?

Uninsured motorist coverage is not required by law in every state around the country, however it is mandatory in many. Research the insurance rules for your specific state, especially if you have a higher rate of uninsured drivers, to know if it is required. Even if uninsured motorist coverage isn’t required where you live, adding it to your policy is a great way to protect against the risk of getting into an accident with someone who has no coverage or limited coverage.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Not Protect Against?

There are a few specific items that uninsured motorist coverage will not protect against. For example, any incident that doesn’t involve another driver will not activate uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, as another driver with no insurance or limited insurance needs to be present. This means that natural disasters, such as a tree falling, and other similar items will not result in uninsured motorist coverage being used.

Additionally, in some states, the damage to your car will not be covered under this form of insurance. Almost all states that have uninsured motorist coverage as a requirement mandate that medical expenses must be covered, but auto repair costs are left out in some states. This means that you need to review the specifics of your uninsured motorist coverage agreement to understand what costs would potentially be covered.

Keep yourself protected on the road today

While all drivers hope that they are never involved in a car accident, it’s impossible to control the actions of other drivers on the road. Even if you follow the law perfectly, including by being an insured driver, there is no guarantee the other driver will do the same. Adding uninsured motorist coverage to your policy can be an excellent choice when it comes to protecting against the unknown.

Ulani Uriah

Umar Nisar was born and raised in the busy city of Abbottabad. As a journalist, Umar Nisar has contributed to many online publications including PAK Today and the Huffing Post. In regards to academics, Umar Nisar earned a degree in business from the Abbottabad UST, Havelian. Umar Nisar follows the money and covers all aspects of emerging tech here at The Hear Up.

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