Legal Definitions - uninsured-motorist coverage

Uninsured-Motorist Coverage

Uninsured-motorist coverage is a specific type of automobile insurance designed to protect you, the policyholder, and sometimes your passengers, if you are involved in an accident with a driver who is at fault but does not have any liability insurance to cover the damages or injuries they caused. This coverage helps pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage when the responsible driver cannot compensate you because they lack the necessary insurance.

• Example 1: Collision with an Uninsured Driver

  Imagine you are driving home, and another driver, distracted by their phone, fails to stop at a red light and collides with your car. The other driver is clearly at fault, but when the police investigate, it's discovered they do not carry any automobile liability insurance. In this situation, your uninsured-motorist coverage would activate to pay for your vehicle repairs, medical bills for any injuries you sustained, and potentially lost income if you couldn't work due to the accident, as the at-fault driver has no insurance to cover these costs.

• Example 2: Hit-and-Run Incident

  Suppose your car is legally parked on the street, and another vehicle strikes it, causing significant damage, but the driver flees the scene without leaving any contact or insurance information. Despite efforts, the police are unable to identify the responsible driver. Since the at-fault driver cannot be identified and therefore has no known insurance, your uninsured-motorist coverage would typically cover the costs of repairing your vehicle and any injuries you or your passengers might have sustained if you were in the car at the time of the impact.

• Example 3: Passenger in a Friend's Car Struck by an Uninsured Driver

  Consider a scenario where you are a passenger in a friend's car, and another vehicle, driven by an uninsured individual, negligently causes an accident, resulting in injuries to you. Even though you were not driving your own vehicle, your personal uninsured-motorist coverage from your own insurance policy would typically cover your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any lost wages, as the negligent, uninsured driver has no means to compensate you for your injuries.