Uninsured motorist coverage is protection that helps pay for medical bills or car repairs if you’re in a car accident caused by someone who doesn’t have insurance. It can also help cover costs if the other driver is underinsured and their insurance doesn’t fully pay for all the expenses. This type of coverage is important because it provides financial security if you’re involved in a crash with a driver who can’t pay for your damages.
Although all but two states require drivers to carry some type and amount of car insurance, many people still drive without it. In fact, according to the IRC, 1 in 8 drivers are uninsured in the U.S., meaning there’s a good chance a few of them are driving near you. Â
Uninsured motorist coverage helps protect you financially in the event that you get into a car accident with an uninsured driver. Learn everything you need to know about uninsured motorist coverage, including when and how to add this coverage type to your auto insurance policy.Â
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
When you’re out on the open road, anything can happen. You never know when you might get into a car accident with another driver who doesn’t have insurance. If that happens, uninsured motorist protection can help cover some of your costs associated with the accident. Â
Some states require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, and it’s often grouped with underinsured motorist protection. Underinsured motorist coverage kicks in when a driver has insurance but not enough to pay for damages that are a result of an auto accident they caused. Â
What does uninsured motorist coverage cover?
Uninsured motorist coverage helps protect you financially from drivers who operate a motor vehicle without auto insurance. This type of coverage kicks in when you get into a car accident with another driver who doesn’t have insurance but is at fault for the collision. Â
Uninsured motorist coverage also helps pay for expenses when you get into a hit-and-run accident, and the at-fault driver flees the scene before you can gather their information. Although it varies by state and specific policy, uninsured motorist coverage typically helps pay for accident-related expenses, such as:Â
- Medical bills for you and your passengers Â
- Lost wages as a result of the accidentÂ
- Compensation for pain and sufferingÂ
- Funeral expenses, if neededÂ
- Damage to your vehicleÂ
Similarly, underinsured motorist coverage pays for accident-related expenses when the other driver’s insurance cannot cover the costs of damages or bodily injury.Â