Uninsured Motorist

2018 05 29 Uninsured Motorist Coverage Doctor Consulting Patient

What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, is the car insurance coverage that steps in to help pay what a person who doesn’t have liability insurance owes you because he or she caused your injuries in a covered auto accident. It also helps cover when the person who hurt you flees the scene of the accident. Things like medical cost, lost wages, compensation for your pain, etc., may be covered up to the limits you purchased.


Real life example:

You get hit by an uninsured driver and it’s his fault. The x-rays show you have a broken collar bone that will require surgery, and your doctor wants you to rest for two full weeks. Your Uninsured Motorist coverage will help pay for the x-rays, surgery, follow-up visits, and pain medications covered under your policy. It may also compensate you for the days you had to take off work and the pain you had to endure.

Do I need uninsured motors coverage?

Short answer: yes.

(You can find a longer answer and our justification for it in our blog post, “What are Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage and Why Do I Need Them?)

Some states, including two of our Say coverage areas - Illinois and Missouri - require you to carry Uninsured Motors coverage. But even if you live and regularly drive in states that don’t require this coverage, everyone should consider getting it. One reliable source puts the number of drivers out there with no liability insurance at 13 percent. And in some states, it’s well above that number.

What Happens If I am Hit by an Uninsured Driver?

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver and do not have Uninsured Motorist coverage, you’re very likely going to be footing the bill for your own medical costs and lost wages. You will not likely receive any compensation for any resulting disabilities or for the pain you endured. Most drivers without insurance don’t have sufficient assets to cover the costs of the accidents they cause.

If you have Uninsured Motorist coverage, you file a claim with your insurance company and have your medical and lost wages expenses paid, up to the coverage limit you selected. At Say, we offer the following coverage limits:

  • $25,000 per person / $50,000 per occurrence
  • $50,000 per person / $100,000 per occurrence
  • $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence
  • $250,000 per person / $500,000 per occurrence

What about Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Underinsured Motorist coverage is for those situations where you’re injured by a driver who does have auto insurance, but not enough coverage to pay the costs of your medical bills and lost wages.

At Say, we think it’s important for drivers to have BOTH Uninsured Motorist AND Underinsured Motorist coverage, so we’ve combined both coverage options into one. Less decisions/more coverage and a better price to you!