Far too many people learn too late what uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage (aka UM/UIM) is. Usually, they learn after they are injured in a car accident and find out that the person who caused the accident had no insurance or does not have enough insurance. In that situation, UM or UIM insurance would cover the accident victim’s personal injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, those without UM or UIM insurance are usually left without any recourse.
Uninsured Motorist or UM insurance applies when you are injured in an accident and the person who caused it has no insurance.
Examples of When Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage Apply
- The classic example is when you are injured in a car accident and the person responsible for the crash does not have insurance at all.
- UM also applies when in a hit and run situation. That is, if you are hit by someone who then leaves the scene of the accident and they cannot be located, your UM insurance will cover your injuries.
- You get into a crash, and the person at fault for the crash stole the car. That means the at fault person did not have permission to drive the car. In that situation, the liability insurance on the car will not cover your damages, not to repair your car or your medical bills.
- You get into a crash, and the person who caused the crash did have permission of the owner. However, the car owner’s liability insurance does not cover the accident unless the owner caused the crash.
- You get into a crash, and the insurance company of the person who caused the crash is bankrupt.
If you have UM insurance, you also have UIM insurance. Underinsured Motorist or UIM insurance applies when you are injured in an accident and the person who caused it does not have enough insurance to cover your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. UIM becomes a blessing for those who suffer serious injuries from a car accident. Medical bills can pile up quickly. If you are injured in a Las Vegas car accident, an ambulance and a visit to the emergency room can run thousands of dollars.
Is UM and UIM mandatory?
Unlike liability insurance, Nevada does not require drivers to carry UM and UIM insurance. Nevada mandates that you carry car accident insurance to protect others but not yourself. Liability insurance applies when you cause an accident and is aimed to protect the people you injure.
While Nevada does not require UM and UIM insurance, it does require insurance companies to offer it to their customers. See Nev.Rev.Stat. § 690B.020. The limits of the insurance offered must be at least equivalent to the Nevada minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000.00 per accident. Insureds can purchase higher UM/UIM limits for their protection, up to an amount equal to their liability insurance limits.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident and need to know whether your UM or UIM coverage apply, call the experienced Las Vegas car accident attorneys at D.R. Patti & Associates. One of our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys would gladly speak to you and answer your questions.