Uninsured And Underinsured Coverage
Pennsylvania requires drivers to have insurance coverage. However, some drivers break the law and drive without insurance. Where does that leave you if you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver?
Car insurance companies offer uninsured and underinsured coverage to protect drivers. But, how exactly do these coverage options protect you? Learn more in this article.
Pennsylvania Car Insurance Coverage
In Pennsylvania, your car insurance covers you and your passengers. If another driver causes the crash, you can file a claim against their coverage. What happens when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance or have enough insurance? This is when it pays to have uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage.
Uninsured Policy Option
We mentioned above that Pennsylvania requires insurance coverage for all drivers in the state. Yet, there are little to no consequences when drivers break this law. An uninsured driver can receive a $300 fine and a 3-month suspension of their driver’s license.
The penalty isn’t strong enough to deter those driving without insurance. Even worse, people injured in a crash with an uninsured driver get stuck with the expenses. This is why insurance companies offer uninsured coverage.
When Uninsured Coverage Works
If someone is injured by an uninsured driver, the injured person files a claim on their own coverage. Insurance will pay up to the uninsured coverage limits. People with uninsured coverage can also use it in other situations. Pedestrians, bicyclists, passengers, hit-and-run injuries, and others may be able to tap into uninsured coverage on their car insurance policy. If you have uninsured coverage and are injured by an uninsured driver, you may have a valid claim.
Underinsured Policy Option
What is underinsured coverage? Underinsured coverage covers injury expenses above the policy limits of the at-fault driver. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your losses, you may have a valid claim with your underinsured coverage. This coverage also works for pedestrians, passengers, and anyone else injured by a vehicle.
When Underinsured Coverage Works
When the at-fault driver causes too many injuries and there’s not enough money under their policy to cover it all. This is when underinsured coverage helps.
We see this a lot in chain-reaction, multi-vehicle crashes, and at-fault drivers with state minimum car insurance. State minimum car insurance only provides $15,000 in coverage for injured people. Imagine splitting $15,000 between six other people injured in the same crash.
Underinsured coverage helps you when you’re injured by another driver with too little coverage. Sometimes a little accident can lead to serious injuries and medical bills.
Talk To A Lawyer For Free
After an injury, you should talk to an injury lawyer about your situation. Many times, people assume a lawyer can’t help them. Or, they wait until it’s too late to get advice. All Pennsylvania injury lawyers provide free consultations.
Free Legal Consultation In Pennsylvania
Haggerty Silverman & Justice is a local law firm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We always provide free consultations for injury claims. Additionally, you don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for you.
We’ve been helping people since 1994. Our office is in downtown Lancaster, PA with our own private parking lot. If you can’t come to us, we can come to you at the hospital or in your home. Contact us today for a free consultation with an injury attorney in Pennsylvania.