Uninsured And Underinsured Polices

By Susan Reynolds

Car insurance provides drivers protection in the event of an accident. The importance of having insurance is not realized until the unfortunate event of an accident. Laws in most states require drivers to have insurance policies that include liability coverage. While some drivers do not have the required coverage there are those who do have liability yet they have insufficient limits to cover damages when they are at fault. For this reason, it is very important to have coverage that will protect you in case of an accident involving you and such drivers to be a provision in the insurance policy. In the industry this type of coverage is known as uninsured-underinsured motorist coverage.

The uninsured-underinsured provision is an add-on to the basic policy for an additional premium. You might think the provision is an unnecessary expense; however, it is well worth the cost if there is an accident. Although there are additional premium involved, the coverage will pay for itself in the event you are involved in an accident and the other driver is underinsured or uninsured. Obviously those are not ideal circumstances but it is good to know that you are covered just in case.

Even in states where underinsured and uninsured policies aren't a requirement, you should carry this policy. This kind of insurance doesn't just cover you, it covers the passengers in your car, or anyone you list on your policy as an approved driver. This type of policy doesn't just cover damage to your car, either. It can cover hospitalization, damaged or destroyed property replacement, and disability. The cost of an uninsured or underinsured motorist policy costs a lot less money than paying for the damages an irresponsible driver can cause.

This option is vitally important to every driver and should be included in your basic liability insurance coverage. Whereas, the basic policy covers personal injury and property damage caused by you to a third party, your own personal injury is not covered nor are the damages your car receives from another driver's car.

The limits for this kind of coverage are generally similar to the other limits in your basic liability coverage. Some companies may have minimums required for uninsured motorist coverage, and some will allow you to increase your coverage to equal the limit on your liability coverage.

Usually the price of damages is handled by the driver at fault. However, in the case of an uninsured driver, there is no other option than to take on this burden yourself. A single incident or accident could cripple your finances in a moment, and it's in your best interest to protect yourself from this possibility.

Your dollar-amount limits for this kind of policy is usually the same as your regular boundaries. Like with regular policies, some companies might have minimum and maximum amounts they require. - 21396

About the Author:

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Portal that provides consumers with the best Car Insurance Options.