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How does uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage work?

On Behalf of | Jan 13, 2025 | Car Accidents

Most car crash insurance claims involve standard liability coverage. State law requires that every driver carry minimum amounts of liability insurance coverage. Proof of coverage is necessary to register a vehicle, but not everyone remains compliant with the law.

Drivers forget to pay their premiums or choose to cancel their policies. As a result, some people end up in collisions caused by drivers who cannot provide them with the appropriate insurance coverage. In such scenarios, drivers may need to rely on uninsured motorist protection. Those facing catastrophic injuries or dealing with the aftermath of a fatal collision may require the support of underinsured motorist coverage.

How does uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage function after a car crash?

Drivers rely on their own policies

State law only requires liability coverage for injuries and property damage. It also requires uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for at least the same amount as liability coverage, which currently is $30,000.00, in Maryland. If a driver is at fault for a crash, their liability coverage helps pay for the expenses and injuries of the other people involved in the incident. If an accident you are in is caused by an uninsured driver then your claim for damages is against your own insurance company under your uninsured motorist coverage. Many drivers carry more liability coverage than the state requires.

In scenarios where the driver at fault for a crash lacks an appropriate policy or has insufficient coverage, the people affected by the crash can file a claim against their own coverage to recoup their losses. Uninsured and underinsured motorist protection helps reduce the inherent risk of traveling in a motor vehicle and reliance on other people to make appropriate insurance coverage decisions.

As is the case with liability insurance claims, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims are subject to the policy limits set by the policyholder. However, the policyholder may need to negotiate assertively with their own insurance company to obtain adequate compensation after a crash with a driver who lacks insurance or who has a bare-bones policy that is insufficient to cover your damages.

Seeking legal guidance when a car crash produces major expenses and injuries  is often necessary due to the  complex claims process. Drivers who have assistance when dealing with uninsured/underinsured  motorist coverage claims can often focus more on addressing vehicle repairs and their medical recovery instead of the fight with their own insurance company as to what is fair compensation for their injuries and damages.

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