25 Apr WHAT IF ANOTHER DRIVER DOESN’T HAVE INSURANCE?
Posted By Gruenberg Kelly Della || 25-Apr-2017
Although almost every state in the U.S. requires drivers to carry auto insurance, some people choose to drive without it. Recent studies have shown that the number of uninsured drivers on the road in the U.S. is on the rise. In fact, roughly 5% of drivers in New York alone do not have insurance. A large portion of the state’s drivers carry only the mandatory minimum liability coverage of $25,000. However, for bad accidents involving serious injury or major property damage, minimum liability coverage might not be enough. With this in mind, it is important that drivers who have car insurance have sufficient uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of their insurance policy. Drivers should also know what these insurance policies typically cover.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance (UM)?
Uninsured motorist insurance protects you if you’re involved in an accident with someone with inadequate or no liability insurance. Uninsured motorist insurance options vary from state to state. This includes coverage options, available limits, and mandatory requirements. Policies like this typically cover auto accidents where the at-fault driver is without insurance, the at-fault vehicle is unregistered, stolen or driven without the owners’ permission, or the at-fault driver left the scene of the accident and cannot be identified.
Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UIM)
These policies cover motor vehicle accidents where the at-fault drivers do not have enough auto insurance to cover all of the damages caused in the accident. At-fault drivers carrying only the minimum liability insurance may come up short in the event of a serious accident. With UIM insurance, you may receive protection in the event that the at-fault driver’s insurance fails to cover the total cost of your damages.
Who Needs UM/UIM Insurance?
In New York, uninsured motorist insurance is required. Even if your state doesn’t require UM/UIM, it is strongly recommend that you add it to your commercial auto insurance policy. If an uninsured driver causes an accident that injures you or damages your property, there will be no insurance company to pay for the damages, unless you have a UM or UIM insurance policy.
Have you been in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist? Proving liability can be difficult, which is why it is important to have strong legal representation. Determining negligence or who is at fault for an accident can drastically affect your insurance coverage. At Gruenberg Kelly Della, our accident attorneys believe our clients are deserving of quality representation, regardless of their financial situation. We understand the overwhelming stress associated with these types of legal matters. As our client, you pay nothing until we recover for you. With Gruenberg Kelly Della, you don’t have to take the first step alone.
Schedule an appointment with one of our Long Island accident attorneys now.