Car accidents are prevalent. From small fender benders to enormous T-bone accidents, many people will experience at least one during their lifetimes. Because of the statistical likelihood of experiencing an accident, all states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance to cover the costs of a collision should one occur. However, not all people follow this law.
All across the nation, around 12.6 percent of drivers are uninsured. This data was collected by the Insurance Research Council from 2010 to 2012. While the numbers of uninsured drivers have dropped, there are at least enough of them around to guarantee at least some of them will experience a car crash.
For this reason, many states require insurance companies to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, although not all drivers are required to opt for these policy additions. These policies cover the cost of what the uninsured or underinsured driver cannot.
The 3 most important reasons to have the coverage are as follows:
- Without the other driver’s insurance, you might be on your own to cover the cost of the damage.
- Your passengers will be covered as well.
- You’re covered if you collide with someone with the minimum policy amount.
People who buy the minimum possible coverage can be just as much of a problem as an uninsured person. While they do have a policy, they are paying the bare minimum to afford insurance coverage that may be insufficient to pay the cost of car damage, medical bills, and lost wages.
For example, if you were in a severe car accident with 3 other people, not only will your car need to be repaired but 4 people total in the crash might require medical tests, surgery, and physical therapy if your bones were broken during the crash. If the person who caused your accident has the minimum possible coverage, it means his or her policy only might cover $15,000 per person plus an additional $30,000 split among the 4 injured. That total amounts to less than $30,000, which needs to cover medical bills that may exceed $50,000 or even $100,000 per person.
If you’ve been injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist and you don’t have enough to cover your bills, let us help. You might be able to recover the difference in a personal injury lawsuit. Our skilled York personal injury attorneys can take a look at your case and offer knowledgeable legal advice regarding your best course of action.
Contact us about your case by calling us at (717) 744-0531 or filling out our online form to schedule a consultation today.
