Car ownership can be expensive, especially if you get into an accident that causes you to incur medical expenses or miss work. Auto insurance companies offer a variety of different types of insurance that protect against expenses related to driving including "uninsured motorist coverage." Uninsured motorist coverage is required in some states and optional in others.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Basics
Most states require drivers to buy auto liability insurance, which pays for damages one driver causes to another. For example, if you hit a vehicle stopped at a stoplight, your liability insurance could pay for his medical bills and damage to his car. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for treatment of your injuries and repair or replacement of your vehicle when another driver hits you and does not have liability insurance. According to Progressive, uninsured motorist coverage can cover medical bills and lost wages, and may include compensation for pain and suffering. Under-insured motorist coverage often goes hand in hand with uninsured coverage and pays for damages you incur when liability coverage of another driver is insufficient to cover your expenses.
Coverage Requirements
The rules on uninsured motorist coverage vary by state. Edmunds states that uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage is required by law in Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Other States
Even if uninsured motorist coverage is not required in your state it can be beneficial to purchase if it is an option. Progressive states that almost 15 percent of drivers on the road do not carry the liability insurance that they are required to have by state law, making uninsured drivers an ever-present danger. If you don't carry uninsured motorist coverage, you may end up paying for the cost of damages in an accident that is not your fault.
Considerations
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is similar to uninsured motorist coverage in that it can pay for medical expenses and lost wages that result from an accident. Unlike uninsured motorist coverage, PIP can pay for expenses regardless of who is at fault in an accident. According to Edmunds, PIP is required in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah.
Tags: motorist coverage, liability insurance, uninsured motorist, coverage required, motorist coverage required, uninsured motorist coverage
