April 10, 2011

The Benefits Of Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is a type of coverage that can be added onto your new or existing auto insurance policy. In some states, such as New York, Maryland, and Illinois, this coverage is mandatory. In most other states, it is an optional coverage that drivers can purchase. With this insurance, a driver can receive financial compensation for injuries sustained in an accident that was caused by another driver who doesn’t carry adequate insurance or has no insurance at all.

An insurance policy pays out only the maximum limit as stated in the contract. Every driver should have liability insurance, which is used to pay out damages caused to another party. However, if a driver carries inadequate insurance or no insurance at all, the injured party could be stuck with hefty medical bills. Because of this, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is used to pay the difference between what the under/uninsured driver is able to pay and what the victim should be compensated for, if the at-fault driver actually carried the correct amount of insurance.

There are a few different types of drivers that can fall under this category. First, a person may neglect to purchase auto insurance completely; thus, they are uninsured against any damages they may cause to others. This is regarded as a crime. A hit and run driver falls into this category. If a driver hits a pedestrian or injures a driver in another vehicle and then leaves the scene without providing identification, by law, they are considered to be uninsured. If they are identified later, this charge is negated and they are then charged with failing to remain at the scene of an accident. They are then responsible for damages incurred. In some cases, the guilty party is not found and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage will offset the cost of medical expenses. The third type of driver is one who purchases only the minimum required amounts of liability. The cost of accidents and injuries resulting from a crash are always increasing and the minimum limits required for an insurance policy are not always enough to pay off these bills. Uninsured motorist coverage will take effect in this case as well.

When you purchase an auto insurance policy, it is important to review all coverages available so that you are fully covered according to your individual as well as financial needs. An insurance agent will answer questions and help to advise you as to which coverages will be the most beneficial to you. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage will protect a driver against an unexpected accident involving someone who is not adequately insured.