5 Reasons Why You Need Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

 Posted on June 01, 2022 in Personal Injury

It is impossible to be fully prepared for a potential car accident, especially since you cannot predict the actions of others. Even if you obey all traffic laws and drive as safely as possible, other drivers may act negligently or recklessly, leading to dangerous collisions that can result in serious injuries and extensive property damage. To make matters worse, the person who caused an accident may be uninsured, making it difficult for you to receive coverage that will fully address your injuries and damages. Fortunately, one way you can prepare for this eventuality is by ensuring that your auto insurance policy includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Reasons to Consider UM/UIM Coverage

If a driver who causes an accident does not have insurance, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will address the expenses related to the injuries that occurred in the collision. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage will apply in situations where a driver has insurance, but the limits of their policy will be insufficient to address the injuries you have suffered. You should consider including these coverages in your auto insurance policy for multiple reasons, including:

1. 11.8% of drivers in Illinois are uninsured. This means that you have more than a 1 in 10 chance of getting in an accident with someone who does not have insurance coverage. In these situations, you may have limited options for receiving compensation that will address your expenses.

2. In addition to uninsured drivers, many drivers have insufficient insurance coverage. The minimum liability insurance coverage in Illinois is $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident for bodily injuries. This means that if you are in an accident with someone who has the minimum coverage, the most their policy will pay out is $25,000. If you suffer serious injuries, your medical bills could be much higher than this amount, and in some cases, they can total $100,000 or more. Because of this, you could face financial ruin due to the insufficient coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage can fill in that gap and ensure that you receive compensation for expenses that exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.

3. Your own liability insurance will not provide you with coverage. While liability insurance coverage is required in Illinois, this policy will cover others who are injured in an accident that is your fault. Liability insurance will not provide coverage for you or your passengers, so if you only have the minimum amount of insurance, you will have no protection.

4. UM/UIM coverage will protect you and your family following a car accident. If another driver collides with your vehicle, and they were responsible for the accident, you can receive coverage under your own policy in the event that the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

5. UM/UIM coverage can protect you when you are not in a vehicle. Your auto insurance policy can even address situations where you were injured by a negligent driver outside of your vehicle. For example, if you were injured in a pedestrian accident while legally crossing the street because a person was texting while driving, and the distracted driver did not have insurance or had insufficient coverage, your auto insurance policy’s underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage can provide you with compensation to address your medical expenses.

UM/UIM coverage should be a part of all insurance policies in Illinois. Liability insurance policies are required to include uninsured motorist coverage at the minimum policy limits. However, it can be a good idea to purchase additional UM/UIM coverage to ensure that you and your family will be covered in situations where other drivers do not have the necessary coverage to address your injuries and damages.

Contact Our Chicago Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney

While your insurance policy may provide you with coverage if you have been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, it can sometimes be difficult to receive the full compensation you need in these cases. Kadzai Law Group, LLC can negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf to ensure that your injuries will be fully covered, and we can also help you determine whether you can receive compensation from other sources. To get legal help in these situations, contact our Hyde Park uninsured driver accident lawyer at 312-229-0050 and set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=021500050K143a

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=021500050K143a-2