What is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance?
In short, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist, or “UM/UIM” coverage kicks in when you are in an accident, and the at-fault driver (the one that caused the accident) either a) is completely uninsured or b) does not have enough insurance coverage to pay for all of the damage they have caused.
As an example, let us say you are in a terrible accident caused by a driver who simply does not have insurance for one reason or another. You would then file a claim against your own UM policy.
What if you are in a terrible accident, but the at-fault driver has only the Maryland state minimum of $30,000 in coverage? If you have UIM coverage in excess of the $30,000, then you can make a claim against that policy. So, if you have a $50,000 policy, and you have received $30,000 from the at-fault driver, you can collect an additional $20,000 from your own policy.
Can you waive UM/UIM coverage? Yes, you can, but it’s a terrible idea. If you are in an accident caused by someone else, and they are uninsured, and you do not have UM/UIM coverage, or you do not have enough UM/UIM coverage, you might be unable to recover any money for your medical bills, pain and suffering, or lost wages.
Contact your insurance carrier or agent to ask if you are properly protected.
This article/blog post should not be construed for legal advice, nor does it create an attorney client relationship. All cases are different, and only a skilled lawyer can properly assess your case. If you’ve been in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact us. We are your Maryland car accident attorneys.
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