Top Reasons To Buy Uninsured Motorist Insurance

If you are ever involved in an car wreck, having uninsured motorist insurance can be a blessing. Without this type of car insurance coverage, you could be left with significant expenses even if the accident was not your fault.

 

Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist insurance provides protection when you are involved in a car crash caused by an uninsured driver. It pays for:

• Medical expenses.

• Lost wages.

• Pain and suffering from the auto accident injuries.

• Vehicle repairs and damage to certain personal items that were in your vehicle during the accident if the policy includes uninsured motorist property damage insurance.

When looking for uninsured motorist coverage, you should keep in mind that this type of policy also provides benefits if your are involved in an accident with a driver who has car insurance with a low per accident limit.

For example, if someone has an insurance policy with coverage of 25/50/20, this means each injured person could receive up to $25,000 with a maximum of $50,000 paid in bodily injury coverage per accident and the total expenses for property damage could not exceed $20,000. This would be enough to cover a relatively minor car accident, but it may not be sufficient coverage for a driver who causes a multiple vehicle pileup on the freeway.

 

Top 4 Reasons to Buy Uninsured Motorist Insurance

Everyone has different auto insurance needs, but understanding some of the most common reasons for buying uninsured motorist insurance will help you decide if this coverage is right for you.

1) Your State May Legally Require It

Depending on where you live, uninsured motorist insurance may be a legal requirement. Currently, 29 states have laws addressing uninsured motorist coverage. However, some states may allow you to opt out of this protection in writing. Contact your auto insurance agent for details regarding your state's insurance laws.

2) Your State Requires Low Minimum Insurance

All states have some form of financial responsibility requirements for drivers, but the amount of liability insurance a driver must carry varies from state to state. The difference in requirements can be substantial. For example, Delaware has a 15/30/10 liability insurance minimum while Wisconsin’s minimum insurance requirement is set at 50/100/55.

If you live in a state with low minimum insurance requirements, drivers are often do not have the proper insurance to deal with a very serious auto accident.

3) Your State Has a High Percentage of Uninsured Drivers

Even though insurance is legally required in all states, this doesn’t mean everyone obeys the law. Research indicates that the percentage of drivers who are uninsured approaches nearly 25% in some parts of the United States. Mississippi, California, New Mexico, Alabama, and Arizona have traditionally had the largest number of uninsured drivers.

Generally, states without electronic databases to track insurance information have higher than average rates of uninsured drivers.

4) You Want Peace of Mind

It's impossible to protect yourself from every possible disaster, uninsured motorist insurance is an easy way to give yourself some extra peace of mind while you're on the road. If you comparison shop using an online database to get car insurance quotes from several different companies, this coverage is relatively affordable in relation to the many benefits it provides.