Why Do You Need Supplemental Uninsured Motorist Insurance?

Have you ever been hit by an uninsured driver? If yes, then you must have told yourself that since you didn't do anything wrong there's no reason why your car insurer would ask you to pay for the related expenses. Well, this isn't exactly true, and this article discusses why.

The number of drivers without auto coverage has increased.

In a 2011 news release that was published on its website, the Insurance Research Council (IRC) found that a little less than 1 motorist out of 7 in the country is driving without being legally allowed to do so. More specifically, roughly 13.8% drivers are currently uninsured, which represents an increase in comparison to the 2007's number. Part of the blame for this jump can be imputed to the latest financial crisis during which many motorists were dealing with severe monetary issues, and thus decided to delay the extension of their auto coverage.

How can you be protected against this category of drivers?

While it's understandable that certain drivers may have reasons for not being insured, it makes no sense that you have to pay on their behalf, especially if they are at fault. This is where supplemental uninsured motorist insurance becomes relevant. It's a form of insurance policy that provides you with coverage against a variety of road events, such as when a driver hits your vehicle and then runs off, or underinsured/uninsured motorists. 

For example, in the scenario described in the introduction, if the negligent driver's policy is too limited to cover for any of damages inflicted to your car, your supplemental uninsured motorist coverage will kick in to pay for the remainder.

There is correlation between the number of underinsured/uninsured drivers and the cost of protection against them.

In some states, it's mandatory to be covered against underinsured/uninsured drivers. The cost of this protection mainly depends on the proportion of such drivers that reside in your state. 

For instance, in the states of Florida and Alabama, more than 23% of drivers fit in that category, while in Maine, that proportion is 4.7%. If you live in Alabama, then you'll be assessed higher premiums than someone who's living in Maine. In short, there's a positive correlation between the number of underinsured/uninsured drivers and the cost of being insured against them.

Getting supplemental uninsured motorist insurance, like that offered by Allstar Insurance, will give you the protection you need against the perils associated with underinsured/uninsured drivers.