Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Can Provide the Best Protection Against Negligent Drivers

We are often contacted by individuals seeking assistance after suffering injuries in motor vehicle accidents caused by a negligent driver.  In most instances, particularly when the injuries are relatively minor, the at fault driver will have adequate insurance coverage to fully compensate the client for his/her injuries, including both economic damages (i.e., medical expenses and lost wages) and non-economic damages (i.e., pain and suffering, permanent disability, etc.). But what happens when the at fault driver has insufficient insurance coverage or no insurance at all?

Under Illinois law, all licensed drivers are required to procure automobile insurance with minimum coverage for bodily injuries in the amounts of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident (multiple injured persons). However, with today’s high costs of medical care, the statutory minimum carried by some drivers may be grossly inadequate to provide fair compensation for the injuries they cause.  For example, a trip to the emergency room alone can result in a bill for thousands of dollars, particularly if there is a need for diagnostic testing such as CT or MRI scans.  Should admission to the hospital be necessary, the bills will almost certainly exceed the $25,000 policy limits.

Unfortunately, in cases where our clients have suffered serious and/or life-threatening injuries and the at fault driver is grossly underinsured, the outcome may turn out to be less than satisfactory for the client, despite the best lawyering. This is because the client is often faced with the difficult choice of settling the case for the woefully inadequate policy limits or proceeding to trial and obtaining a favorable verdict, but then having to chase the defendant, sometimes for years, to discover any assets and collect on the judgment.

One of the best ways to avoid situations like this is to always procure adequate uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage when purchasing an automobile insurance policy.  This provides protection in the event that you are injured as a result of the negligence of a driver with little or no insurance. With such coverage, the policyholder’s insurance carrier steps into the shoes of the at fault uninsured/underinsured driver to provide compensation for the injuries sustained up to the limits of the UM/UIM coverage.  The rates for such additional coverage are generally very reasonable. For example, a 49-year-old woman with a Jeep Wrangler was recently quoted $96.00 per year to increase her coverage from $100,000/$300,000 to $250,000/$500,000.  Of course, rates will vary between insurance carriers based on a number of factors. However, with so many uninsured or underinsured drivers on the road, procuring adequate UM/UIM coverage can provide the best affordable protection.