What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) protects you when the driver who causes an accident has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your damages. It pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering — expenses that the at-fault driver's insurance should have covered but cannot.

How uninsured motorist coverage works

If an uninsured driver runs a red light and hits your car, you cannot collect from their nonexistent insurance. Without UM coverage, you would be stuck paying your own medical bills and repair costs despite being the victim. With UM coverage, you file a claim with your own insurer, who pays up to your UM limits for injuries and damages you sustained.

Uninsured vs. underinsured motorist coverage

• Uninsured motorist (UM): Applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all or is a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified.
• Underinsured motorist (UIM): Applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are too low to cover your damages. If you have $50,000 in medical bills and the other driver's policy only covers $25,000, your UIM coverage can pay the remaining $25,000.

What UM coverage typically pays for

Depending on your state and policy, UM coverage can pay for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and in some policies, damage to your vehicle. Some states offer UM bodily injury (UMBI) and UM property damage (UMPD) separately, while others combine them.

The scope of the problem

According to the Insurance Research Council, about one in eight drivers in the United States is uninsured. In some states, the rate is closer to one in four. Every time you are on the road, there is a meaningful chance that the driver next to you cannot pay for the damage they might cause. UM coverage exists for exactly this reason.

What Truscott recommends

We consider uninsured motorist coverage one of the most important protections on an auto policy. The cost is relatively low, and the protection is significant. At Truscott, we recommend UM limits that match your liability limits for maximum protection. Request a Truscott coverage review and we will make sure you are covered when other drivers are not.