Recently, I came across an article in USA Today that illustrated the rates of uninsured drivers in each state. Nationwide, about one in seven drivers are uninsured… in Washington State, it’s actually one in six.
That means, every sixth driver you pass on the road is driving without any car insurance at all! (And probably, at least as many only carry state minimum liability limits.)
What does this mean for you? If you are hit by one of those drivers and suffer injuries, such an uninsured driver will be unlikely to have the resources to pay for your loss.
Please forgive me for painting such a gloomy scenario – but reading the USA Today article hit me on a very personal level. In late 2009, my sister (who lives in Southern California) was riding her motorcycle. At an intersection, she was hit broadside by a car whose driver sped up to beat a light turning red. She was hospitalized for almost four months in a Trauma Center similar to Harborview, and has been facing medical expenses and physical therapy ever since. She was unable to work for almost one year, and nearly lost her business.
Her medical expenses and loss of income have exceeded $ 2 million. This does not include the damage to her motorcycle, or any compensation for pain and suffering.
The driver who hit her was not uninsured, but at the California State minimum liability limits of $15,000, was severely underinsured. For all her injuries and damages, my sister received $ 15,000 from the at-fault party’s insurance. The remaining funds needed to come from my sister’s medical insurance, family support… and her UIM coverage.
UIM coverage stands for “Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist” coverage. It protects you and your passengers if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. UIM coverage limits usually mirror the liability limits you carry: If you carry $250,000 liability limits, you generally have $250,000 UIM coverage.
As the economy forces people to find more ways to save, the number of underinsured motorists on our roads is likely to rise. Even if you are a safe and experienced driver who is unlikely to be at-fault in an accident, increasing your liability limits will benefit you with higher Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage — a crucial protection in case you are the victim of an accident.
Please believe me that my team and I know that in this economy, it is a hard decision to increase protection. That’s why I offer you: Challenge us!
We can find ways to increase the liability and UIM coverages on your auto policy with no or minimal extra expense on your part. (This is actually one of my favoite parts of being an insurance agent — helping clients reposition their coverages to provide the highest value.)
If you’d like for us to get to work for you, simply call us for a quote today at 425-379-9200, or reply to this e-mail. We’re here to help!