Why Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Matters

One of the most overlooked — yet most important — coverages to discuss with your agent is uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Most people assume that if another driver causes an accident, that driver’s insurance will fully cover the damages. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Many drivers either carry no insurance at all or only the minimum coverage required by law, which may not be enough after a serious accident.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage helps protect you if you’re injured by a driver who has no insurance. Without this coverage, you could be left paying out of pocket for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Simply put, if someone can’t afford insurance, they often can’t afford to pay for the damage they caused either.

What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses.
For example, if your medical expenses total $75,000 and the other driver only carries $25,000 in liability coverage, UIM coverage can help cover the remaining costs.
With rising medical expenses, this protection is more important than ever.

Why It Matters
Many people focus on protecting their vehicle, but the biggest financial risk in an accident is often injury-related costs.
UM and UIM coverage can help protect:

• Your savings
• Your income
• Your family’s financial future

As I tell clients, this coverage protects you from other people’s bad decisions.

Conclusion
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can make a major difference after a serious accident. These coverages help ensure that someone else’s lack of insurance doesn’t become your financial burden.
If you haven’t reviewed your auto policy recently, it’s worth taking another look at your UM and UIM limits to make sure you’re properly protected.



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