Weston Law Firm, P.A.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverages
Uninsured
Motorist Coverage
and
Underinsured Motorist Coverage are different types of coverages, but
they do share some common characteristics. The attorneys at
the
Weston Law Firm will provide you with expert advice to make sure that
you collect all of the Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist benefits you
are entitled to under the law.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is mandatory for all automobile policies issued in South Carolina. If the driver responsible for the accident is uninsured, the Uninsured Motorist coverage under your own policy will provide coverage for your medical bills, injuries, pain and suffering and other damages caused by that uninsured driver (up to your limit of available UM coverage). In essence, your own insurance company will “step into the shoes” of the uninsured driver to pay the damages caused by that driver. In some circumstances, it may be possible to stack the UM coverages available for multiple vehicles under a single policy, or to collect UM benefits for the same accident under different policies. If either situation applies, you can increase the potential pool of UM coverage available to you.
Remember that there are many instances where you will have UM coverage available to you even though you personally do not have an automobile insurance policy. For example, if another family member in your home has an insurance policy, you may be entitled to UM benefits under that policy. Another example would be UM coverage available to you when you are a passenger in someone else’s car.
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory on all automobile policies issued in South Carolina. The current minimum coverage limits allowed for bodily injury claims are $25,000.00 per person and $50,000.00 per accident.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Unlike Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is optional in South Carolina. If the driver responsible for the accident does not have enough liability insurance to pay for your injuries and damages, the Underinsured Motorist coverage under your own policy will provide coverage for the losses you have sustained in excess of the responsible party’s liability coverage (up to your limit of available UIM coverage). For example, if you have sustained $75,000.00 in total damages, and the at-fault driver has only $25,000.00 in liability coverage, your UIM coverage will be available to pay the $50,000.00 difference so that you are fully compensated for your injuries (assuming you have at least $50,000.00 in UIM coverage available to you). Just like with UM coverage, in some circumstances, it may be possible to stack the UIM coverages available for multiple vehicles under a single policy, or to collect UIM benefits for the same accident under different policies. If either situation applies, you can increase the potential pool of UIM coverage available to you.
Once again, it is important to remember that there are many instances where you will have UIM coverage available to you even though you personally do not have an automobile insurance policy. For example, if another family member in your home has an insurance policy, you may be entitled to UIM benefits under that policy. Another example would be UIM coverage available to you when you are a passenger in someone else’s car.
Underinsured motorist coverage is optional in South Carolina.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is mandatory for all automobile policies issued in South Carolina. If the driver responsible for the accident is uninsured, the Uninsured Motorist coverage under your own policy will provide coverage for your medical bills, injuries, pain and suffering and other damages caused by that uninsured driver (up to your limit of available UM coverage). In essence, your own insurance company will “step into the shoes” of the uninsured driver to pay the damages caused by that driver. In some circumstances, it may be possible to stack the UM coverages available for multiple vehicles under a single policy, or to collect UM benefits for the same accident under different policies. If either situation applies, you can increase the potential pool of UM coverage available to you.
Remember that there are many instances where you will have UM coverage available to you even though you personally do not have an automobile insurance policy. For example, if another family member in your home has an insurance policy, you may be entitled to UM benefits under that policy. Another example would be UM coverage available to you when you are a passenger in someone else’s car.
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory on all automobile policies issued in South Carolina. The current minimum coverage limits allowed for bodily injury claims are $25,000.00 per person and $50,000.00 per accident.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Unlike Uninsured Motorist Coverage, Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage is optional in South Carolina. If the driver responsible for the accident does not have enough liability insurance to pay for your injuries and damages, the Underinsured Motorist coverage under your own policy will provide coverage for the losses you have sustained in excess of the responsible party’s liability coverage (up to your limit of available UIM coverage). For example, if you have sustained $75,000.00 in total damages, and the at-fault driver has only $25,000.00 in liability coverage, your UIM coverage will be available to pay the $50,000.00 difference so that you are fully compensated for your injuries (assuming you have at least $50,000.00 in UIM coverage available to you). Just like with UM coverage, in some circumstances, it may be possible to stack the UIM coverages available for multiple vehicles under a single policy, or to collect UIM benefits for the same accident under different policies. If either situation applies, you can increase the potential pool of UIM coverage available to you.
Once again, it is important to remember that there are many instances where you will have UIM coverage available to you even though you personally do not have an automobile insurance policy. For example, if another family member in your home has an insurance policy, you may be entitled to UIM benefits under that policy. Another example would be UIM coverage available to you when you are a passenger in someone else’s car.
Underinsured motorist coverage is optional in South Carolina.
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