Full Coverage: Uninsured Motorists Coverage - Are you covered when the other guy isn't?
Previously, we wrote about the difference between what automobile owners are told constitutes “full coverage” for their car or truck and what real full coverage means. In order to help you understand the differences, we are writing a series of entries about the different types of coverage typically available for auto insurance. Past entries have included liability coverage for bodily injury , liability coverage for property damage, and collision coverage, like liability coverage for property, but for your own vehicle. This entry will be the first of two on coverages that might apply when the driver who was at fault in the accident does not have enough insurance to cover the loss, or has no insurance at all.
In Kentucky, we have two very similar types of coverage to deal with situation in which the other, at-fault, driver either has no insurance coverage or does not have enough to cover the damage. The first, known as “uninsured motorists coverage” or “UM” for short applies when the other driver has no insurance at all. The other is known as “underinsured motorists coverage” or “UIM” for short and applies when the other driver has some coverage, but not enough to cover the damage he has done to the people in the accident. This entry will discuss UM coverage and a future entry will discuss UIM coverage.
UM coverage exists because, unfortunately, many people drive on Kentucky’s streets and highways without any automobile insurance. This is incredibly irresponsible and illegal, but is still a reality. Because these people exist, you need insurance coverage in case you are hit and injured by one of them. This type of coverage is called “uninsured motorists coverage” because it refers to the fact that the other driver was “uninsured” at the time of the accident. It is coverage on your insurance policy that will essentially act like the other driver’s liability coverage for bodily injury (if he had any) and provide you money for pain and suffering, excess medical expenses, and excess lost wages as a result of the accident.
In Kentucky, UM coverage must be offered, by default, by your insurance company. It may be waived (turned down) by you if you wish, but this waiver must be done in writing by you. Therefore, almost everyone has this type of coverage, even if you don’t know about it. Coverage is typically purchased in the same increments as liability coverage for personal injury and has per-person and per-accident limits just like liability coverage (increments like 25/50, 50/100, 100/300 – in thousands of dollars, etc.). This coverage will therefore not only apply to you as the driver and/or owner of the car, but any passengers you might have that are injured or anyone you let drive your car, like a child or spouse will also be covered.
Louisville, Kentucky personal injury and auto accident attorney Brian D. Cook says that “it is incredibly unwise to drive without this type of coverage.” He warns that “you can’t control what other people will do with their insurance which is why it is so important that you do control what you do with yours.” If you have questions about how uninsured motorists or UM coverage works or if you were involved in an accident with another driver that did not have insurance and need assistance, please contact the personal injury and auto accident attorneys at Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC for assistance. We are happy to help.
