Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance is a kind of car accident insurance policy, which provides protection to people who are injured in accidents due to uninsured motorists. Majority of states have laws, which oblige car owners to have this type of insurance policy. In a UM insurance, victims of accidents would get an amount that is equal to the amount they would have received if the motorist had been insured.
Uninsured motorist laws vary from state to state, but normally have two things in common:
?Has a requirement that insurance will cover all payments that are entitled to the victim
?Meets the definition of "uninsured vehicle"
The majority of uninsured motorist policies state the following items:
?The one who is "insured"
?The one who is regarded as "uninsured"
?The kinds of vehicles which are and are not covered by the uninsured policy
Uninsured Vehicle: What is it?
The term "uninsured vehicle" has different definitions, depending on the UM laws of various states. Here are some of the more common definitions:
?Vehicles which are not covered in a state that compels compulsory coverage, automobile insurance
?Vehicles that are used in cases of hit and run accidents in which the identity of the hit and run driver is unknown
?Vehicles which are stolen
Having or Getting Coverage
Virtually all states compel insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage. Rental car companies, however, normally are not required to offer UM coverage through their insurance.
There are some states in which you may refuse to carry uninsured motorist insurance. The decision has to be made by the "named insured" on the insurance policy and:
?Has to be in writing
?Has to show that the one insured understands what an uninsured coverage is and what it means if ever the coverage gets rejected
?Will take effect on the date when the rejection is signed, which is normally when the full application is signed
Uninsured Motorist Insurance: Who is covered?
It is important that the one who is claiming benefits under a UM policy fall in the definition of the policy of an "insured" for that is who the insurance coverage is intended to protect. Generally, insured persons fall into any one of these three classes:
?Class 1
The one named as the holder of the insurance and his/her family members
?Class 2
Authorized occupants of the vehicle
?Class 3
Persons who are related to the one insured who sustained an injury due to a car accident with an uninsured vehicle. For instance, children who are seeking damages because of the death of a non custodial parent fall into this class
Finding out who falls in each category differs from every state. In many cases, the courts decides this, that is why it is essential to be aware of the laws in your state if you have to claim uninsured motorist benefits from your insurance policy.
You can consult with a competent lawyer who has sufficient knowledge on car accident insurance policies to help you in your legal concerns and aid you in claiming benefits that you deserve.
You probably have never heard about it, or if you have, you may really not know what it is. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is a type of coverage that is available on your Washington automobile insurance policy. UM coverage is designed to pay you for damages that have been caused by an uninsured motorist.
A related type of coverage is Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. UIM is designed to pay you for damages caused by another motorist who may not have enough insurance to fully compensate you for all of your damages. UIM is considered "floating coverage." That is, this type of coverage floats on top of the other motorists insurance to provide you an additional layer of coverage if it is needed.
UM or UIM coverage is extremely important. In my practice, I see that most accidents are caused by the most irresponsible citizens of our state. Usually, these persons have a low paying job, or they are unemployed. Many times they have a poor driving record and may have multiple prior accidents. Given the person's lack of responsibility, it is not surprising then this is the type of person who is responsible for causing the most accidents on our roadways. And is it any more surprising to learn that this type of person usually will not carry auto insurance on his or her vehicle? Or if the person does have insurance, it usually will be the minimum amount required, just $25,000. A $25,000 policy does not go very far, particularly with the high cost of medicine today.
Yet, dollar for dollar, UM or UIM coverage is the best deal money can buy. Usually the cost of this coverage is considerably lower than the standard liability coverage (the type of coverage you buy to pay for damages that you cause another). But I see many people who try to save money by refusing UM/UIM on their policy. This is a big mistake.
Let me tell you about a true story. About a year ago, a woman called me about an accident she had several months earlier (I'll call her Janet). Janet was rear-ended by another motorist who was uninsured. The other driver was 25 years old, job-less, and had neglected to buy any insurance on his 1990 Honda. The collision was fairly significant, causing more than $8,000 damage to Janet's Ford Taurus. Janet received a significant neck injury that ultimately required surgery to repair the herniated disc in her cervical spine. She had complications following surgery and another procedure was performed. When she contacted me, Janet's medical bills were more than $80,000. And they were continuing to accrue because she was still getting treatment and medication for her ongoing symptoms. Fortunately Janet had health insurance through her employer. But her health insurance carrier only paid about 70% of her bills. What was more unfortunate however, was that five (5) years earlier Janet decided to reject UM/UIM coverage so she could save an extra $100 per year. That decision proved tragic.
Janet's decision to reject UM/UIM meant that she really had no recourse against the other driver. Oh sure, she could have sued him. But he was practically judgment-proof. He had no insurance and no assets. She never would have been able to collect anything from that young man. Had she had adequate UM/UIM coverage, Janet could have secured compensation from her own auto insurance carrier. But she had rejected the coverage years ago and never thought to renew it after her financial position improved. In the end, Janet had to pay more than $20,000 for the past medical care she received for her injuries. Janet had to pay a lot of money for an accident that she never caused. An unjust result to say the least.
My advice to everyone is this: purchase as much UM/UIM coverage that you can afford. The accidents are often caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists. You never know when you could be the next accident victim. UM/UIM coverage must be offered by your carrier. Your rejection of UM/UIM must also be in writing to be valid.
Both Kamille Pagibigan & Christopher Davis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kamille Pagibigan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Accident Lawyers, Anger Control and Legal Matters. A has different types depending on your needs. Log on to our. Kamille Pagibigan's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Christopher Davis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Marketing and Wrongful Death. Christopher M. Davis is the managing partner of Davis Law Group. He brings over 15 years of practical yet innovative experience to personal injury cases. He practices law in Seattle, WA. You can learn more about Mr. Davis at. Christopher Davis's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.