Sustaining a collision to your car is bad enough. It can be even worse when you discover that the driver who hit you does not possess automobile insurance. Now you find yourself on the hook for damage and medical costs that are not your fault. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you may avoid dipping into your own wallet.
Your immediate concern in any auto wreck is your physical health. If an uninsured driver has hit you and you sustained injuries, you want your uninsured motorist policy to step up for you in your time of need. But will your policy pay your medical bills? It depends on the type of policy you have.
The different kinds of uninsured coverage
As explained by Nerdwallet, uninsured coverage comes in different forms. To cover the damage done to your car by an uninsured driver, you need uninsured motorist property damage coverage. However, if you want a policy that pays for your medical bills, you should have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Sometimes an insurer will offer these types of coverage together, but you should check to be sure you have both.
There is also a similar kind of coverage called underinsured motorist coverage. This kind of insurance will cover you if you suffer a collision from a driver that carries insurance but does not have enough coverage to pay for all of your bills. Underinsured coverage will pay the difference.
Your insurer should honor your policy
An uninsured or underinsured policy can be a boon in tough times, but be aware of requirements involved with your policy, such as deductibles you must pay. Also pay attention to the procedures you must follow in filing a claim. Some insurance companies will drag out the process or look for loopholes to deny coverage. If you have an entitlement to compensation per your insurance policy, your insurer should not make it hard for you to receive the coverage you need.
