Auto Insurance Coverage for Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

In the event that you're involved in an accident with someone who was at fault, but who also either carries no insurance or not enough of it, you can be protected if you have an auto insurance policy that covers this type of accident. This coverage kicks in to handle costs that the other person cannot pay for. A good example of this is medical expenses. Other things that are covered include:

• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: This portion of the policy addresses the coverage of the insured, members of his or her household, and passengers if there is any bodily injuries incurred, damages or death that is brought about by an uninsured driver. This also covers hit and run occurrences. The policy of the insured takes care of all medical expenses within policy limits.

• Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury: These coverages apply to the insured and the members of the insured's household and passengers should bodily injury, damages or death occur due to the fault of an underinsured driver. If the underinsured driver is not carrying enough coverage to meet all the costs, the insured's policy will pay for the difference up to the policy limit. If the insured's coverage is not enough to pay for all of the costs, one of the drivers will have to take care of the difference on their own.

• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage: This takes care of costs to repair the insured's car when it is damaged by a negligent uninsured driver. If Collision Coverage isn't in place, the insured can still get repairs covered up to a point. If there is Collision Coverage available, the Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage takes care of the Collision deductible. This varies from state to state but this coverage cannot replace Collision Coverage.

• Underinsured Motorist Property Damage: This takes care of the insured's property when damaged by a negligent underinsured driver who isn't carrying enough insurance to cover it. If the insured doesn't have Collision Coverage, this will also pay for repairs to a point. If Collision Coverage is in place, it will pay for the deductible. Amounts and conditions vary from state to state but this coverage cannot replace the Collision Coverage.