Before purchasing auto insurance, it is important to understand all the coverages available. Uninsured motorist insurance covers bodily injury to you and passengers who are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist or by a hit-and-run driver. By law in Connecticut, the minimum coverage amount is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
How Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work?
While most insurance companies lump uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage together, these types of coverages work differently.
With uninsured motorist coverage, an individual is only protected by their own insurance company since the at-fault driver does not carry any insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also protects someone who is involved in a hit-and-run accident.
In cases where an individual is in an accident caused by an underinsured motorist, both insurance companies can provide coverage. The underinsured motorist’s insurance may provide some compensation based on their liability insurance, and the injured person’s insurance company will step in to provide their maximum underinsured motorist coverage amount if the underinsured motorist is deemed at fault.
Why Should You Purchase Additional Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
While Connecticut’s minimum coverage amount may appear to be enough, it may not cover the entirety of injuries sustained in a car accident. If an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes serious harm due to an accident, medical costs can easily surpass the $25,000 limit per person. In cases where an individual is injured by an uninsured motorist, costs can quickly rack up since only the insured’s insurance company can provide compensation.
Healthcare Finance News reveals that the average cost of hospitalization for a car accident victim is $57,000, which surpasses the minimum required coverage amount per person of $25,000 in Connecticut. Individuals may also require surgery depending on the severity of the car accident. While surgery alone can be expensive, many common types of surgeries, including back surgery and knee surgery, also require months of physical therapy afterward.
Additionally, depending on the complexity of medical attention required after an accident, the at-fault driver may not be legally required to pay the injured person’s medical bills on an ongoing basis. In this case, the injured party may need to bring the case to court in order to force the at-fault driver to pay them damages. An individual’s insurance company may also not pay the full amount that the injured person wants. The insurance company can claim that a crash does not fall under the scope of the insurance policy or that the insured did not provide sufficient documentation in order to receive compensation.
Contact an Experienced Attorney for Help
Being involved in an accident is stressful enough. Navigating uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can quickly become complicated, especially if an injured individual requires ongoing medical assistance. It may be beneficial to involve an experienced Waterbury uninsured motorist accident attorney who is familiar with auto insurance and the trajectory of medical costs due to car accidents. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, contact Attorney James A. Welcome to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.