Uninsured Motorist Coverage After a Violation
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay your claim.
Compare Rates After a ViolationWhat Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage has two components: Bodily Injury (UMBI) covers medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you. Property Damage (UMPD) covers repairs to your vehicle in the same scenario. This coverage also applies in hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver can't be identified. Your policy limits determine the maximum payout, typically mirroring your liability limits.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You need Uninsured Motorist Coverage if you live in a state with high uninsured driver rates, carry high liability limits that would be worthless if someone hits you, or lack robust health insurance to cover accident-related medical bills. After a traffic violation, this coverage becomes even more critical because you're statistically more likely to be involved in another incident during the 3-5 years your violation affects rates, and you need protection from uninsured drivers who may also have violations. If you're financing a vehicle, some lenders require UMPD to protect their collateral when collision coverage has a high deductible.
Calculate your financial exposure: multiply your state's uninsured driver rate by your average annual mileage to estimate collision probability, then compare your health insurance out-of-pocket maximum plus potential lost wages against the annual UM premium. If your total exposure exceeds 20 times the annual premium cost, carry the coverage.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Coverage limits you select: choosing UMBI limits matching your liability limits (recommended) costs more than minimum required limits.
- Your recent violation affects the base rate calculation, though UM coverage itself typically increases proportionally less than liability after a violation.
- Whether you waive UMPD in favor of collision coverage, which some insurers allow to avoid duplicate coverage and reduce costs.
- Your ZIP code's hit-and-run frequency and litigation environment, which can double UM costs in high-risk urban areas versus rural counties.
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