CHICAGO, IL – Nearly one in eight drivers don’t carry car insurance. If you’re injured in a car crash caused by a driver who doesn’t carry liability car insurance, you could be paying some hefty out-of-pocket expenses, including medical bills and health insurance deductibles. In some cases, people’s injuries cause them to miss work, which leads to lost wages.
Fortunately, car insurance coverage types alleviate some of these issues you may potentially face. Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage pays for medical bills and other expenses for you and your passengers if you’re involved in a car crash caused by:
- A driver who doesn’t carry any liability car insurance
- A driver who doesn’t have enough liability insurance to cover your medical bills
- A driver whose insurance company denies coverage or goes out of business
Uninsured motorist coverage may cover expenses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Lost wages if you’re injuries cause you to not be able to work after the car accident
- Funeral expenses
- In some states, car damage which is known as uninsured motorist property damage coverage
Four Types of Coverage Under Uninsured Motorist Coverage
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury – pays when an at-fault driver causes a car accident.
- Uninsured motorist property damage – covers damage to your car if it’s hit by someone without insurance. Some states allow you to use this coverage for hit-and-run accidents.
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury – pays when another driver causes a car accident but they do not carry enough liability insurance to cover all your medical bills, lost wages, etc.
- Underinsured motorist property damage – covers damage to your car if it’s hit by someone who does not carry enough liability insurance.
How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do I Need?
Some states require uninsured motorist coverage which means you’ll need to buy at least the state’s minimum when you obtain car insurance quotes. The minimum will typically be uninsured motorist coverage in amounts that match your liability coverage amounts.
Illinois, for example, requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage for all drivers. The minimum uninsured motorist coverage amount a driver can have is 25/50. This translates to:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
Uninsured motorist property damage must be offered if Illinois drivers do not have collision insurance; although, you can reject it in writing. The minimum coverage in Illinois is $15,000. The uninsured motorist property damage deductible is $250.
Hit-And-Run Accidents
A hit-and-run accident is typically an accident that involves the driver at-fault leaving the scene of an accident without exchanging insurance or contact information. This may occur between:
- Cars
- Pedestrians
- Property, such as a mailbox or fence
In some states, uninsured motorist insurance may cover damages if you’re a victim of a hit-and-run crash. A hit-and-run can be covered under two uninsured motorist coverage types:
- Uninsured motorist property damage pays for repairs if your car or property has been damaged in a hit-and-run accident.
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury pays for medical bills if you’re injured in a hit-and-run accident.
Illinois doesn’t allow uninsured motorist property damage coverage for hit-and-run accidents; however, you can use collision coverage to pay for your car repairs. Other states that abide by this include: California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, and Ohio.
Should I Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Property Damage?
Unless your state requires it, it’s likely not necessary for you to purchase uninsured motorist property damage if you already have collision insurance. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car regardless of who caused the damage.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average claim payment for uninsured motorist property damage is $1,805.
What to Do If You’re Injured In A Car Crash from an Uninsured Motorist?
If you’re involved in a car crash and the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough liability insurance, it’s important to contact your car insurance company and file a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage.
It’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away. A personal injury attorney will not only help lift the burden after a car accident, but they have the resources and knowledge for these types of cases since they can be tricky. The skilled personal injury lawyers of Dinizulu Law Group have received significant settlements and verdicts for our clients, all while holding those accountable for causing your injuries by paying damages for your injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and more.
Call our office today for a free, no obligation consultation at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for additional information.
