Uninsured Motorist Levels Are on the Rise
There’s another unfortunate side of the economic downturn that impacts every driver on the road: The number of underinsured motorists is expected to rise.
Washington State is in the Top 10 for Uninsured Motorists! According to the Insurance Research Council in 2007, WA had the 10th highest uninsured motorist rate in the country. In WA, as of 2007, the uninsured motorist rate was 16%. Uninsured and underinsured motorists cost insured motorists over $80 million in WA State, according to Darrin Sanger, Communications Director of the Northwest Insurance Council. California comes in at almost 25% for uninsured motorists as of 2013 data collected by the Insurance Research Council. This is the 3rd highest percentage in the country! Many of the drivers who do carry insurance only carry the minimum requirements. So if you are in an accident and you have a nice car, or there are any injuries, there is a very good chance that the other driver will either be uninsured or underinsured. Many accidents easily exceed the minimum liability limits.
A recent study from Insurance Research Council, says that about one in six drivers across the United States may be driving uninsured by 2010. This means responsible drivers who purchase insurance may end up paying for injuries caused by uninsured drivers. . If you are involved in an accident with someone without auto insurance and you don’t have adequate coverage, you will find yourself in small claims court. People who have no insurance or are underinsured usually do not have any assets to pursue in court. Without uninsured motorist coverage, you would likely have to pay any additional losses yourself.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coveragewill pay for bodily injury losses to you and any passengers when you are in an accident that was caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. You can also purchase uninsured motorist property damage coverage to protect your vehicle from this damage as well.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage is such an important coverage to have as part of a complete auto policy. Without it, you put yourself at risk every time you drive. This coverage is only a few extra dollars a month, and prevents you from financial ruin in the event of an accident.
If you haven’t reviewed your liability coverage in the last two years, now is a good time to revisit your auto coverage to ensure you avoid extra costs after an accident. We’re happy to help – and we can often increase your coverages without a significant increase in premium. Just call Carriage Insurance at 425-641-5066 or e-mail jody@carriageagency.com.