Understanding these Insurance Terms before You Need Them
Insurance is a big part of our lives. We have health insurance, life insurance, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. And, of course, we have car insurance. If you have looked over your policy, you likely notice a section called uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. On the surface it looks like a part of your plan that pays if you’re hit by someone without insurance, but there can be a bit more to this coverage than meets the eye.
Let’s check in with the Car Crash Captain, and we’ll get the scoop on what these parts of your policy actually do for you, and why they may not be enough to provide for you after you’ve been hit by another driver.
Different Parts of an Insurance Policy
An auto insurance policy can be described as either full coverage, or liability only. To really understand what’s going on, we need to break that down a bit further.
Liability insurance is what transfers the liability of the wreck from you, to the insurance company. This means if you are found to be at fault, your insurance will cover the damage to the other vehicle. Damage to your own vehicle, however, is not covered and you are responsible for those repairs.
Full coverage includes your liability coverage, as well as both comprehensive and collision coverages. These coverages help pay for the costs to repair your own vehicle if you are found at fault, or if you hit wildlife or suffer from weather related damage.
There are some more intricacies that go into your policy, so it’s best to talk it over with your insurance provider.
What is Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage?
Part of your liability policy should (we say “should” because some policies may not include this coverage) include uninsured and underinsured coverage.
This coverage helps to save your bacon if you are hit by a hit-and-run driver, a driver who doesn’t have insurance, or a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage to adequately cover your expenses.
Often, people can be confused on what their policy actually covers. It’s worded a bit funky, sort of like most things that have to do with insurance, so let’s break it down even more.
Does Uninsured or Underinsured Coverage Pay for my Vehicle?
Most policies that have uninsured and underinsured coverage provide a boost in case your medical bills aren’t covered by the other person’s insurance. If they have the minimum coverage, and their policy only covers a few thousand, you could be stuck if you have a six-figure medical bill. This UI coverage will help to cover the remaining expenses.
That does not, however, mean that the uninsured or underinsured coverage will pay to fix your vehicle. For that, many insurance companies have what is called uninsured motorist property damage coverage. It’s often an add-on to your base policy.
We say “most” and “often” because there are some insurance companies that provide the property damage coverage as part of their base uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Again, you have to check with your insurance agent to see what’s actually covered.
How do I get my Property Fixed if Hit by an Uninsured Driver?
Let’s suppose your property isn’t covered and you are hit by an uninsured driver.
You really only have a couple options.
You can pay for the repairs out of your own pocket. Which most sane people will not to want to do. Or, you can try to sue the offending party to cover the damage. Keep in mind that if they don’t carry insurance, they likely don’t have any assets. Suing them for “all they’re worth” is suing them for “literally nothing.”
Herbert Law Group Helps Car Crash Victims
If you are injured, you may have some other options. That’s why Herbert Law Group is here. We’re on your side, to make sure the insurance companies are doing what is fair.
To know if we can help you and make sure you’re being compensated adequately, we need to know what’s going on. Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch for your free conversation where we get to know each other.