Types of Uninsured Motorist Coverages
Car accidents can cost a lot. That’s why you’ll want to protect yourself with the right car insurance coverages. If you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverages can help pay for your medical bills and car repairs.
It’s important to realize that there are three uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages. They are:
These car insurance coverages can help pay costs up to your policy limit if you’re struck by:
- A driver who has no insurance
- Someone who doesn’t have enough insurance, and your medical expenses exceed their liability limits
- A hit-and-run driver
In most states, you can get uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage through the
AARP® Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford.
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Underinsured & Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI)
If you’re in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, your UMBI coverage helps pay for your medical treatments and any pain and suffering. This coverage also helps pay medical expenses if you’re injured by a car as a pedestrian.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD)
If an uninsured driver damages your car, your
uninsured motorist property damage coverage can help. This insurance pays for damages to your car and helps you get back on the road as soon as possible. It’s especially useful if you don’t have collision insurance on your car.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Your UMBI policy will have unique limits and coverages. To learn about your options you can contact The Hartford at
888-413-8970.
Limits for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage
You can also figure out on your own how much uninsured motorist coverage you need by looking at the amount of
bodily injury liability insurance you have. Then you can get an equal amount of UMBI, so you have the same level of coverage for yourself and passengers.
What Happens If You Have an Accident with Uninsured Motorist?
If you get into a car accident with an uninsured driver, and you have UMBI insurance coverage, it can help pay your expenses. If another driver without insurance rear-ends your car, and you need medical attention, you may think your next step is filing a claim with their insurance company. But if they don’t have coverage, you can’t. Instead, your UMBI policy will help pay your expenses.
Without coverage, you’ll be stuck paying medical bills out of pocket or through your health insurer. And, if you have to take time off work to recover from injuries, you’ll have lost wages. So, it’s important to make sure you have the right level of UMBI coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Requirements by State
Depending on where you live, the law may require uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.
Some states that require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage include:
In Illinois you can buy underinsured motorist insurance with minimum limits.
Some states where uninsured motorist coverage is optional are:
Most states require drivers to carry liability
car insurance coverage. However, in 2015, the Insurance Information Institute found that one in eight people in the United States drove without insurance. In some states, as many as one in four drivers went without insurance protection.
2 This is why it’s a good idea to look into uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, even if it’s optional in the state where you live.
How to Get Uninsured Motorist Insurance
