Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is an important piece of your car insurance policy that protects you in an accident caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. In Massachusetts, UIM coverage is mandatory, meaning that all drivers have it as part of their car insurance policy. Despite this requirement, many people are not aware of the benefits of UIM coverage, or they assume that they will never need it, and they carry only the mandatory minimum limits. However, in this article, we will discuss why UIM coverage is so important in Massachusetts and why it is a wise investment for all drivers.
Why You Want UIM Coverage
The first reason UIM coverage is so important is that it can help protect you in the event of an accident caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. According to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, the minimum liability insurance limits to get a car on the road in Massachusetts are $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. This means that if you are involved in an accident caused by a driver who has the minimum liability insurance, their company will only pay up to $20,000 in damages to one person and $40,000 total to all people injured in the accident. However, if you have UIM coverage, your policy will step in and provide additional coverage, up to your policy limits, to help cover any damages that exceed the other driver’s coverage.
Another reason UIM coverage is so important is that it can protect you in the event of a hit-and-run accident. In Massachusetts, hit-and-run accidents are a common problem, and they can be especially difficult to deal with if the other driver is not identified. In such cases, UIM coverage can help to cover your damages, even if the other driver is never found.
Uninsured Drivers
Additionally, UIM coverage can also provide protection if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance at all. According to the Insurance Research Council, an estimated 14% of drivers in Massachusetts are uninsured. Without UIM coverage, you could be left to pay for your own damages, which might be financially devastating.
Underinsured Motorcyclists
Lastly, UIM coverage is important because it can also provide protection for underinsured motorcyclists. In Massachusetts, motorcyclists are required to have liability insurance, but many of them do not have enough coverage to fully protect them in the event of an accident. In this case, UIM coverage can provide additional coverage to help pay for any damages that exceed the other driver’s coverage.
Hit And Run Coverage
Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is an important type of car insurance that protects you if an accident is caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance to cover your damages. In Massachusetts, UIM coverage is mandatory; all vehicles must have it as part of their insurance policy. UIM coverage can protect you in the event of an accident caused by a driver with insufficient insurance limits to cover your damages, in the event of a hit-and-run accident, in the event of an accident with a driver who does not have insurance at all, and for underinsured motorcyclists.
Collecting From the Insurance Company
It is important to review your car insurance policy to ensure that you have adequate UIM coverage and to consider increasing it if necessary. If you have been injured in an accident and need to obtain the maximum UIM compensation from the insurance company, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at our office to discuss your options.
