On April 3rd at 5:33pm, a 2013 Nissan Quest was totaled after an incident on US 63 Southbound, north of County Road 399 in Boone County. The car was traveling in the left lane and attempted to get over in the right lane when they swerved to avoid a car in their blind spot, staying in the left lane. The car overcorrected and traveled off the right side of the roadway, down an embankment and landing on its right side, after flipping and colliding with multiple trees. The driver of the Nissan, a 65-year-old man, sustained moderate injuries and was taken to University Hospital by Cole County Ambulance. An occupant of the vehicle, a 72-year-old woman, suffered serious injuries and was also taken to University Hospital by Boone County Ambulance. The pair were utilizing safety devices at the time of the incident; they also did not report auto insurance to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage acts as a safety net, allowing you to receive compensation from your auto insurance company in the event that you get into an accident with an uninsured vehicle. It also protects against accidents caused by “phantom vehicles.” A phantom vehicle is a vehicle that causes an accident without physical contact, e.g. a vehicle veering into your lane, causing you to overcorrect and collide with something. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that 16% of drivers in Missouri are uninsured, ranking 14th highest in the nation (2022). UM coverage can provide opportunities for compensation after a “phantom vehicle”, or unidentified party causes an accident and will help protect you against financial strain if you collide with an uninsured driver.
AW Smith Law specializes in personal injury and wrongful death claims. The number of victims of accidents like this is high and rising, and we believe in spreading public awareness as the first step in making a change. Our hearts are with the victims of these accidents, and we are praying for them and for their families.