The Importance of Uninsured Insurance Coverage

Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage in Colorado

One of the most important aspects of owning a car, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is having the proper insurance coverage to cover you. In fact, the law actually requires you to have insurance. Unfortunately, not everyone abides by this law, which can lead to very precarious situations if you are ever involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Even if you were not at fault for an accident, not having uninsured insurance can really hurt you. Sure, the other motorist might technically be responsible for the damages, but good luck getting money from someone who may not have had enough money to afford coverage in the first place.

Colorado Is One of Worst States for Uninsured Motorists

That’s why uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) insurance is so important for everyone, especially for residents of Colorado. According to statistics from PropertyCasualty360.com, Colorado is the ninth worst state in the country when it comes to the number of uninsured motorists.

By comparing the number of claims filed under the injury portion of the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage with the number of claims filed under the bodily injury (BI) liability coverage, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) is able to estimate the percentage of uninsured drivers nationally and in individual states. Colorado’s UM-to-BI ratio was 16.2 percent, according to the IRC’s “Uninsured Motorists, 2014 Edition.” Nationally, the average sat at 12.6 percent.

As a driver in Colorado, you can better protect yourself from uninsured drivers by investing in uninsured insurance coverage. Although it is state law for automobile owners to maintain insurance, insurance companies are also required by law to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance as part of every policy sold, unless the coverage is specifically refused in writing.

Why invest in UM/UIM insurance coverage?

You may be asking why you should invest in insurance to cover the at-fault driver, which is a fair argument, but it can pay off in the long run. In Colorado, if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, or does not have enough insurance, your automobile insurance policy will be used to help pay for compensation for your injuries, damage, and losses.

Basically, if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver and you do have uninsured insurance coverage, this coverage will act as the other driver’s insurance for you. In other words, your insurance will cover whatever damage the uninsured driver caused as if he or she had the correct insurance in place. Further, if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your damages, your underinsured policy will stack on top of the at-fault driver’s insufficient coverage.

There are other benefits to having uninsured insurance motorist coverage in the state of Colorado. For instance, if any resident in your household owns a car that has uninsured motorist coverage, regardless of whether you were occupying the car at the time of the accident or not, that coverage may be applied to pay your claim. It can even be used in the event you are hit by an uninsured driver while walking as a pedestrian.

If you’re involved in a car accident with an uninsured motorist, contact The Law Offices of Dianne L. Sawaya LLC and find out what our team of car accident attorneys can do for you. Call us at (303) 758-4777 or contact us for a free evaluation of your car accident case.