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What Happens If You Get Hit by an Uninsured Driver
June 12, 2024
A 2023 study by Insurance Information Institute showed that 14% of motorists were uninsured. Even if you aren’t one of the one in seven people without Auto insurance, getting into an accident with one of those uninsured drivers can cause big problems for you, especially if you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage. Here’s what happens if you get hit by an uninsured driver while you have uninsured motorist coverage versus when you don’t.
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is a type of insurance that covers you and your passengers if you’re in a car accident caused by a driver who either doesn’t have any liability car insurance, leaves the scene of the accident without exchanging insurance information, or whose insurance company denies coverage or goes out of business before paying your claim. There are two types of UM coverage—uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD), which cover the respective types of damages. Uninsured motorist coverage can sometimes also include underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), which goes into effect when an at-fault driver has liability limits that do not adequately cover injuries and/or damage to your vehicle.
What Happens if You Get Hit by An Uninsured Driver When You Don’t Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
If you get hit by an uninsured driver who is at-fault and you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your Auto insurance package, you’ll be responsible for any replacement and repair costs, as well as the costs of any injuries. While you can take the uninsured driver to court, this process can be lengthy and expensive, and many uninsured drivers do not have the assets needed to pay for the losses. That means that even if a judge orders them to pay for the damages, you may not be able to recover any money.
What Happens if You Get Hit by an Uninsured Driver When You Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
If you have uninsured motorist coverage and get into an accident where someone without car insurance is at fault, your coverage will kick in up to its limits. If, for example, you have UMBI coverage up to $50,000 and UMPD coverage up to $25,000, you can file a claim with your insurance company to receive up to those amounts for any injuries or damages incurred during the accident.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Because so many drivers are uninsured or underinsured, uninsured motorist coverage could benefit anyone. That said, some states actually require certain levels of uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage. In Oregon, for example, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is required. In fact, Oregon requires a $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident minimum for uninsured motorist coverage. If your UM coverage limits are greater than the minimum limits required by law, you may also have underinsured coverage, which is determined by subtracting the amount recovered on your behalf from your uninsured motorist limits. So, if a negligent driver with a liability limit of $25,000 hits you and you have UM limits of $100,000, your policy would provide you with up to $75,000 in UIM insurance.
Now that you know what happens if you get hit by an uninsured driver, it’s time to make sure you’re adequately covered! Contact an independent insurance agent today to discuss adding uninsured motorist coverage from Grange Insurance Association to your Auto insurance coverage. We currently have coverage available in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. In the meantime, check out our Auto insurance blog where we cover everything from collision vs. comprehensive car insurance to why car insurance total loss claims are on the rise.
The content available via Grange.com is for informational purposes only and may not be used for any other purpose. Content provided or expressed on Grange.com, including that of third parties, may not reflect Grange Insurance Association’s (GIA) policies or conform to any agreement you may have with GIA and its subsidiary companies. Please contact a licensed insurance agent to obtain particular advice.
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