Injured By An Underinsured Motorist (UIM)
You’ve just been involved in a car wreck, traded insurance cards with the at-fault driver, obtained the police report, and called your mechanic to schedule an appointment because your car needs major repairs. But when it comes time to pay the repair bill, the other driver’s insurance policy is not enough to cover the damages you’ve incurred. This is called an underinsured motorist, and this is a problem for you.
For bodily injury, the minimum requirement in some states is as little as $25,000 per person and $50,000 per collision. For property damage, some minimums are as low as $25,000 per collision. If you are involved in a collision that isn’t your fault, and the other driver only has these minimum limits, you may be at risk of having to pay out of your own pocket to cover the repairs your vehicle needs.
There is good news in this scenario. Before you are ever involved in an accident, you can add Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) to your auto insurance policy. Uninsured Motorist Coverage is an additional amount of auto insurance available for you to purchase on your own automobile policy to protect you in case of an accident where the at-fault driver does not have enough coverage to pay your expenses. UIM coverage can provide critical protection for you and your family if you are injured in a collision involving a driver with only the minimum insurance requirement.
Of course, all add-on insurance options come with a premium to pay, so do your research, talk with your insurance agent, and choose your options wisely. It will help you to be prepared for an unforeseen catastrophe. And, if you are injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, a lawyer, can file a claim on your behalf and help you navigate the road to recovery.