When speaking with clients about insurance coverage after a car wreck, we often hear: “I have full coverage.” When I ask what that means, there is usually a long silence before hearing “I’m really not sure.”
Do You Really Have “Full Coverage?”
“Full coverage” is not an actual type of automobile coverage and the phrase is subject to much interpretation. Automobile insurance policies may have liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage.
Most people know that liability coverage protects you for accidents that are your fault. What people often overlook when purchasing automobile insurance policies, is the coverage is only up to the limits you purchase.
That inexpensive premium that you purchased may not be protecting you against claims and, likewise, may not help you out if someone else causes a wreck that has either a minimum limits policy or no insurance coverage.
How Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage Works
This is where underinsured/uninsured motorists coverage comes in play. Often referred to as “UM” insurance coverage, UM coverage protects you when the at-fault driver either has no coverage at all (they are uninsured) or has insufficient coverage to compensate you for your damages (they are underinsured).
What happens if you or a family member is involved in a horrible car accidents and is faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills, and the at fault driver only has the minimum liability limits in Georgia, $25,000.00? Someone carrying minimum limits probably does not have significant assets or money in the bank to pay your claim.
What’s the solution? UM coverage.
UM coverage would pay the additional damages up to the coverage. Therefore, if your medical bills are $350,000 and you have $1M in UM coverage, you will have the ability to collect for your injuries up to the policy limits.
UM Coverage Offers Protection with Little Added Cost
The best news, not only does UM coverage protect you from those with little or no liability coverage, the additional premium for UM coverage is usually significantly less than what you maintain for the same liability coverage. What’s the lesson? Do not count on others to maintain adequate insurance coverage. Protect yourself and load up on UM coverage.
Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC has a team of Atlanta car accident attorneys with extensive experience representing those injured by another person's negligence. If you need help after an accident, call us.
Our blog is also available in powerpoint form in the following sites:
- https://www.slideshare.net/JonathanHayes27/the-importance-of-uninsured-motorist-coverage
- http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/GoldsteinHayes-3147675-importance-uninsured-motorist-coverage/
- https://issuu.com/goldsteinhayes
- https://www.scribd.com/presentation/350016449/Importance-of-Uninsured-Motorist-Coverage