When was the last time that you reviewed you automobile insurance policy? Do you know what types of coverage are included in your automobile policy? Do you know if your insurance policy will adequately protect you or your loved ones if you are seriously injured in an automobile accident resulting from the negligence of a driver who is uninsured or underinsured? Has your insurance agent explained to you what will happen if you reach your policy limit? This article focuses on the uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist provisions in automobile policies and attempts to explain how these provisions may protect you and your loved ones in the case of an automobile accident caused by another person’s negligence.

Realistically, most people buy car insurance because it is mandated by state law. Accordingly, most drivers maintain minimum levels of automobile insurance. Unfortunately, doing so may cause problems for victims of automobile accidents because the policy limits set forth in the negligent driver’s insurance policy may not satisfy all of the victim’s damages, including hospital bills. Indeed, this is an all too familiar problem and can be summarized in the following example. A victim sustains serious injuries as a result of the negligence of another driver. The negligent driver maintains the minimum amount of insurance coverage required under state law. The victim’s medical bills far exceed the negligent party’s policy limits. The question is simple: how do you protect the interests of you and your loved ones? How will the remainder of the medical bills and other damages be satisfied? There may be two provisions in your automobile policy that may protect you in the above-stated example; specifically, the uninsured and underinsured motorist provisions.

The uninsured motorist provision in your automobile policy protects you (the insured), the insured members of your household, and your passengers for bodily injuries or death caused by an at-fault uninsured driver. Thus, if you are involved in an accident where the other driver is at fault but has no insurance, your uninsured motorist provision in your automobile policy will cover medical expenses, up to the limits stated in your policy.

The underinsured motorist provision in your automobile policy protects you (the insured), the insured members of your household, and your passengers for bodily injuries or death caused by the negligence of a person with insufficient insurance coverage. Therefore, if you are involved in an accident involving a person whose insurance coverage cannot meet your damages, the underinsured motorist provision in your automobile policy will satisfy the difference up to the limits of liability stated in your policy.

Undeniably, it is crucial to understand the terms and limits of liability set forth in your insurance policy in order to protect you and your loved ones in the event you suffer a loss to your person or property. It is important to discuss the limits of your policy limits with your insurance agent to determine the types of coverage you require and best fit your needs. However, please note that many insurance companies fail to tell their insured that the cost of increasing your policy limits will often only have a minimum impact on your insurance premiums. For example, recently, an insured learned that the cost to increase the insured’s uninsured and underinsured motorist liability coverage from $100,000.00 per accident to $1,000,000.00 per accident would increase the insured’s premiums by $10.00. So, for less than $2.00 per month, the insured received an additional $900,000.00 of insurance coverage.

We present this information to help you understand that it is important to understand the terms and conditions stated in your insurance policy so that you can make an informed decision that best suits the needs of you and your family.

If you have any questions regarding insurance coverage or would like to discuss a personal injury matter, please contact Patel & Williams, PLLC. The attorneys at Patel & Williams, PLLC are experienced in personal injury issues and are available to discuss your legal matter with you.