Donahoe Kearney Blog

Protect yourself against uninsured driver's in this recession.

I've said it before - and in better economic times - but it's worth repeating.  Evaluate your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your car insurance policy and make sure it adequately protects you and your family.

In my practice, we are getting more calls from people hurt in accidents caused by drivers without insurance. These days, it seems more and more drivers are dropping coverage or can't afford it.  If you're seriously hurt in an accident but there is little or no insurance coverage, you may be stuck with debilitating injuries, mounting medical bills, and no income.  Is it fair?  No.  But take steps to protect yourself from these drivers by getting the coverage you need. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This is a tale of two clients.  Both were seriously injured in car accidents in Maryland.  Both were hospitalized, required multiple surgeries for their injuries and have painful, expensive rehab to look forward to. 

Neither accident was their fault.  Both should recover fair compensation for their injuries and damages - they can't work and have escalating medical expenses.

They were both hit by drivers with minimum insurance limits.  The guilty drivers' insurance carriers will offer the full extent of their liability insurance policies but it won't even cover the injured drivers' medical bills.

One has uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.  One doesn't.  In theory you can sue the driver who doesn't have much insurance and obtain a large judgment.  But how can you collect on that judgment?

The driver who carries the UM coverage on his own policy will be able to use it to pay his damages over an above the other driver's  policy limit.

I can't stress enough - and have written about it before - get uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to protect you and your family.