Uninsured motorist protections

Uninsured motorist protections constitute a type of auto insurance coverage that pays for injuries and damages caused by drivers without liability insurance. State laws in 22 states, including New York and Illinois, require uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage for all drivers.

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) covers vehicle or property repairs if the at-fault driver lacks insurance; California mandates UMPD with minimum limits of $3,500. In 2022, the Insurance Research Council reported that 14% of U.S.

Motorists–about one in seven–drove uninsured, increasing risk exposure for insured drivers. Policyholders file claims under their own policy’s UM protection after an accident with an uninsured driver; insurers investigate fault before paying out.

UM protections typically cover medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral costs resulting from accidents with uninsured motorists; examples include hospital expenses exceeding $10,000 per person in Florida crashes. Stacking UM coverage allows policyholders to combine limits across multiple vehicles on one policy; for example, two cars with $50,000 each can provide up to $100,000 total protection in some states like Georgia, YourInsurance.info states.

Uninsured motorist protections do not pay for damages if the at-fault party has valid liability insurance meeting state minimums; this exclusion is standard nationwide. Premium costs for adding UM coverage average between $50 and $75 annually per vehicle according to National Association of Insurance Commissioners data from 2021.