Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist Auto Insurance Coverage

When discussing what type of auto insurance coverage you wish to have in an automobile insurance policy, your insurance agent may bring up the possibility of opting to pay for uninsured motorist coverage and/or underinsured motorist coverage. To help you better understand the specifications on uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured coverage, here are some simplified details.

Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage protects individuals in the event that an accident happens and the individual at fault either has no insurance at all or not enough liability coverage to pay for incurred injuries, medical fees, and damages.

In a state like Arizona, where uninsured motorist rates are high, it is in the best interest of a driver to purchase uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage as part of an overall automobile insurance policy. According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), since 2004, the average uninsured motorist rate for the state of Arizona is 22 percent, the fifth highest rate in the United States. The overall nation average for uninsured motorists is 14.6 percent.

What does it mean if I have an automobile insurance policy that covers uninsured motorists?

A vehicle operator who has an automobile insurance policy with uninsured coverage entails that he or she is protected, in the event of an accident, from drivers who carry no automobile insurance.

This type of coverage kicks in when one of the following stipulations is met:

1. The driver at fault does not carry an auto insurance policy.

2. The driver at fault carries insurance, but it is below the state’s required minimum coverage.

3. The driver at fault has an insurance company that cannot finance the costs to cover the damages and/or injuries as a result of the accident.

4. A person is a victim of a hit-and-run driver.

An uninsured motorist policy covers:

1. Medical expenses for the driver and his or her passengers

2. Vehicle damage (although this is not offered in every state)

3. Rental car reimbursement (optional)

What does it mean if I have an automobile insurance policy that covers underinsured motorists?

A vehicle operator who has coverage for underinsured motorist means he or she is covered if he or she is in an accident and although the driver at fault has the minimum state-required liability insurance, it is not enough insurance coverage to compensate you for your damages. Underinsured motorist policies protect the policy holder, passengers, and authorized drivers

An underinsured motorist policy covers:

1. Medical costs.

2. Lost wages

3. Rental car reimbursement (optional)

4. Property damage (in some states)

Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage are important automobile insurance policy options to read about and understand because they protect consumers in situations that you cannot always plan for. Without these types of automobile coverage, a person who is in an accident in which the driver at fault has little or no insurance coverage would only be able to sue that individual, which can be time-consuming and drawn out before any compensation, if any, is awarded.