Being involved in an accident with a motorist who has no insurance or inadequate insurance can leave you responsible for paying for most of your damages. However, there are ways in which you can protect yourself. Your first step should be to talk to your insurance agent to determine how much uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage you have in place to protect yourself.
Uninsured Motorists
An uninsured motorist has no coverage to pay for any property damage or injuries they cause to you. You will have to come up with the money to fix your vehicle and will have to pay for your medical expenses on your own.
Underinsured Motorists
An underinsured motorist has coverage in place, but not enough to fully protect you. Every state has a required minimum amount of coverage that a motorist must carry to remain legal. While this is a good start, the minimum amounts are barely enough to cover even a minor accident. This, again, leaves you in charge of covering most of the expenses.
How Can You Protect Yourself Against Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists?
The best way to protect yourself against significant financial loss is to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with your auto insurance policy. With this type of insurance, you are covered either way, and your financial loss is minimal. Getting the right coverage before you need it is key. Being fully prepared is better than not having enough insurance and being involved in an accident.
If you need more-in-depth information on auto insurance, contact the experts at Steve Wilk Insurance today. You may also visit our office at 310 S Main Street, Suite C, Lombard, IL 60148.