When motor vehicle accidents occur, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may help people avoid paying for the negligence or recklessness of other drivers. Auto collisions may result in serious injuries for drivers and their passengers. Victims may require extensive medical treatment, time off work to recover, and sometimes, long-term care. Those who suffer such injuries often rely on their insurance companies or the at-fault drivers’ carriers to make them whole, but without adequate coverage, they may be out of luck.
What Is Excess Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist are two types of auto insurance coverage that provide an additional layer of security from financial liability for crashes. Uninsured motorist policies cover drivers in the event they are involved in wrecks with motorists who do not have auto insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage takes effect when the at-fault drivers have insurance, but their limits do not cover all the losses.
Auto Insurance Minimums in Indiana
Indiana state law requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance. The policy requirements for drivers in the state include:
- Bodily injury liability of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability of at least $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist property damage coverage of at least $25,000 per accident
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $50,000 per person and per accident
However, motorists can elect not to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages by rejecting the coverage in writing.
Why Carry Excess Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Drivers should carry the state’s minimum required uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage and should also consider purchasing additional coverage. While they carry insurance to protect others in the event they cause a motor vehicle crash, there is no way for drivers to guarantee others have done the same. According to the most recent study conducted by the Insurance Research Council, one out of every eight drivers throughout the U.S. in 2015 did not have auto insurance coverage.
Without uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage, people may have to pay out of pocket for any damages in excess of the other drivers’ policy limits, or they may have to cover them in their entirety. Carrying this type of coverage allows people to recover excess damages from their own insurance companies.