UM UIM Insurance – Are You Adequately Covered?
Most people take their auto insurance for granted. Oftentimes auto insurance becomes another expense we must pay. But when was the last time you looked at your motor vehicle insurance policy to assess if you are properly insured? Do you know how much coverage you currently have on your vehicles?
Oregon law requires drivers to purchase a minimum of $25,000 in auto liability insurance. However, in many cases, this minimum coverage is not nearly enough to protect you in the event you are involved in an accident caused by another driver. It does not take much of a collision for your damages for medical expenses, lost wages due to injury, future medical expenses and pain & suffering to surpass the $25,000 minimum insurance requirement. That is why you cannot count on other drivers to be adequately insured. There are too many drivers on the road with the minimum required insurance coverage and some who drive without insurance.
For this reason, you should increase the amount of uninsured and underinsured insurance, UM UIM insurance, coverage on your own auto policy. UM UIM insurance stands for Uninsured (UM) and Underinsured (UIM) Motorist coverage. UM UIM insurance coverage protects you when an accident is caused by the negligence of another driver who either has no insurance or has insurance coverage that is too low to cover your damages. If you are injured in an accident through the fault of an uninsured/underinsured driver, whether you were driving or were a pedestrian, your own insurance company will provide coverage up to the limits of your UM UIM insurance policy. Underinsured (UIM) insurance is the same as Uninsured (UM), except that the money is paid in addition to the negligent driver’s insurance, if the negligent driver’s insurance coverage is not enough to pay your damages.
For example, if you are injured by a negligent driver who has the minimum requirement of $25,000 in liability insurance and your own insurance policy has UM UIM insurance limits of $100,000, then your policy would provide you with coverage up to $100,000. If you recover the full $25,000 from the at-fault driver, you have an additional $75,000 of coverage under your own UM UIM insurance policy to compensate you for your injuries.
How can you learn more about the Oregon UM UIM Insurance Requirements?
To learn more about Oregon car insurance requirements and how to utilize your car insurance if you are involved in an accident visit my Understanding Insurance Coverage FAQs to find answers to the following questions:
- What insurance coverages are all Oregon drivers required to have? UM UIM insurance requirements?
- How much insurance do I need?
- What is PIP coverage?
- What type of benefits are payable with Oregon PIP coverage?
- How does PIP and UM UIM insurance work?
- What happens if my PIP coverage is exhausted?
- How can an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer help me?
- Do I receive benefits even if I was deemed to be at fault?
- Are pedestrians and bicyclists covered if they were involved in the accident?
- What are the insurance amounts payable and maximum limits?
- Should I talk to my insurance company?
- How should I prepare to make a statement?
- How can a Portland Personal Injury Attorney help?
- Should I talk to the other person’s insurance company?
Travis Mayor, Oregon Personal Injury Attorney
I represent Oregon wrongful death, personal injury, and accident victims in the Portland Metropolitan Area, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties, and throughout the state of Oregon. I provide this Blog as an educational and informational service for Oregon residents – it is not intended to be legal advice, as every case is unique and should be accurately evaluated. If a family member has been fatally injured and you would like a FREE professional consultation with an attorney to discuss your options and legal rights, call me at (503) 444-2825, or email at travis@mayorlaw.com to learn more about your legal rights.
Learn more at: www.mayorlaw.com