In Missouri, over 16% of drivers do not carry auto insurance. If you are in an accident and an uninsured motorist is at fault for your injuries, it is very unlikely that you will receive any compensation from the uninsured motorist. The minimum limit of insurance that is required for drivers in Missouri is $25,000, which means that even if a driver carries insurance, it is unlikely it will be enough to compensate you for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. There are options available on your own auto insurance that will help protect you if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver or a driver who does not carry enough coverage to fully compensate you (underinsured driver).
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)
MedPay is an optional coverage on your own auto insurance that can help cover medical bills from a car accident regardless of who is at fault. MedPay coverage can be particularly helpful if the person at fault for the accident does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries. MedPay can be available to you as soon as you have incurred medical bills from a car accident. This can be very valuable especially if you do not have health insurance or have a high deductible health insurance plan. Different insurance companies have different limits for the amount of MedPay coverage you can purchase and is usually reasonably affordable.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)
UM coverage is a required coverage in Missouri if you have car insurance. Missouri law requires that all drivers and owners maintain liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum coverage that must be purchased is $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident. In a car accident involving injuries, it is very unlikely that $25,000 will be enough to fully compensate you for your injuries. You should think of uninsured motorist coverage as coverage to protect you and your loved ones should you be injured in a car accident. Again, different insurance companies have different limits for the amount of coverage you can purchase but it will benefit you to have as much uninsured motorist coverage that you can in the event you are in an accident where an uninsured motorist is at fault.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
UIM coverage is another optional coverage you can purchase on your own auto insurance policy. UIM coverage will provide coverage in the event you are injured in a car accident where the at fault party does not carry enough coverage to fully compensate you for your injuries. If you are seriously injured in a car wreck and the at fault driver only carries the state minimum coverage, it will not be enough to pay your medical bills, lost wages, or compensate you for your pain and suffering. Your insurance agent may not ask you if you want to include UIM coverage on your insurance policy, so it is important to ask to make sure you have the coverage. UIM coverage protects you and your loved ones if you are injured in a collision with a driver who does not have enough insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries. It is in your best interest to purchase the maximum amount of UIM coverage available to you that you can afford.
If you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered serious injuries, please reach out to The A.W. Smith Law Firm for a free, no obligation case evaluation.
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