What to Know About Uninsured Motorist Coverage Limits

Key highlights:

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage limits cap the amount your insurance pays if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver. These limits cover damages like medical bills and car repairs, but if costs exceed your limit, you’ll need to pay the difference through other means.

Uninsured motorist coverage limits are a crucial part of protecting yourself financially when you’re involved in an accident with a driver who lacks insurance. Despite laws requiring auto insurance, many drivers are still uninsured, leaving others at risk of bearing the full cost of medical bills and vehicle repairs. Understanding the limits of your uninsured motorist coverage can help ensure you’re adequately protected in such situations, giving you peace of mind on the road.

This article explores the key aspects of uninsured motorist coverage limits and why they matter. We’ll explain how these limits work, what happens when you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, and how to choose the right coverage for your needs. Whether you’re reviewing your policy or buying coverage for the first time, understanding these limits is essential to avoid financial surprises.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Uninsured Motorist coverage is a part of your car insurance policy that helps cover the costs of an accident if the other driver doesn’t have insurance. It can help pay for things like:

• Car repairs
• Medical bills
• Other expenses, like lost wages if you can’t work

This coverage can really save you in a tough situation, but there’s something important to understand—there are limits to how much it will pay.

What Are Coverage Limits?

Think of coverage limits like a cap or a maximum amount of money your insurance company will pay after an accident. For example, if your policy says your Uninsured Motorist coverage limit is $50,000, that’s the most your insurance will give you to cover damages, even if your total costs are higher than that. The limit applies to both property damage (like fixing your car) and personal injury (like paying for hospital visits).

How Are Coverage Limits Decided?

The limits on your Uninsured Motorist coverage depend on the policy you buy. You get to choose the amount of coverage when you sign up for your insurance, but there are minimum and maximum amounts based on where you live. In Georgia, for example, the minimum Uninsured Motorist coverage is $25,000 per person for injuries and $50,000 per accident. You can choose to get higher limits if you want more protection. To understand this better, check out how uninsured motorist coverage works in Georgia.

Why Are Coverage Limits Important?

Let’s say you get into an accident, and the other driver is uninsured. If your medical bills and car repairs cost $100,000, but your Uninsured Motorist coverage limit is only $50,000, your insurance company will only pay up to $50,000. You’ll have to cover the rest on your own unless you have other coverage in place. That’s why it’s important to understand your limits and choose an amount that will help protect you in serious accidents.

What Happens if Your Costs Go Beyond Your Limit?

If your damages (like hospital bills or car repairs) are higher than your coverage limit, you’ll have to find other ways to pay for the rest. This could mean:

• Using your health insurance for medical costs
• Paying out of pocket for repairs
• Filing a lawsuit against the driver who hit you (but this can be hard if they don’t have money or insurance)

This is why many people choose higher coverage limits—to make sure they’re fully protected in case of a major accident.

All our cases are handled contingently, so you only have to pay us once we win. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. 

How Our Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver, our uninsured motorist accident lawyer can help you navigate your insurance policy and ensure you understand your coverage limits. We’ll work to make sure you get the compensation you need, even if your damages exceed the coverage limit. Here’s how we can assist:

• Recovering Lost Wages: We’ll help you recover any income lost due to your injuries.
• Help with Medical Bills: Even if your costs exceed your Uninsured Motorist coverage, we’ll fight to get your medical bills covered. If you’re wondering how to handle medical bills after an accident with an uninsured driver, we can guide you through the process.
• Property Damage: We’ll work to ensure your car repairs are fully paid for.
• Emotional Support: Accidents can take a toll emotionally, and we can help you seek compensation for that too.

Important Initial Advice

After an uninsured motorist accident, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Review Your Coverage Limits: Check your policy to understand how much coverage you have.
• Gather Evidence: Take photos of the accident and get a police report to support your claim.
• Get Legal Advice: A personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and guide you through the process if your costs exceed your coverage limits. If you’re unsure how to prove the other driver was uninsured, our legal team can help.

Deadlines

It’s important to act quickly after an accident. There are deadlines for filing claims, so don’t wait too long to contact your insurance company or a lawyer.

Gathering Evidence

To strengthen your claim, you’ll need to gather evidence such as:

• Police Reports: This helps prove the accident happened and who was at fault.
• Medical Records: These document your injuries and treatment.
• Photos and Videos: Visual proof of the accident scene and your car’s damage can make your case stronger.
• Witness Statements: If anyone saw the accident, their testimony can support your version of events. If the driver leaves the scene, learn what to do if the uninsured driver flees the scene to protect your claim.

We understand how challenging this can be while recovering from an accident, so we’re here to help gather the evidence you need to make sure your claim is successful.

For more information on how we can assist you, check out our Personal Injury FAQs.

What Can I Expect to Pay?

Our services are offered on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t pay us unless we recover money for you. This means you don’t have to worry about upfront costs while we help with your case.

Speak to an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Right Now

If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured motorist, understanding your coverage limits can be tricky. Our Atlanta uninsured motorist accident lawyers are here to help you navigate your claim and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, Contact us at (404) 888-4444, email us, or visit our Contact Us page to get started.

Conclusion

Understanding the limits of your Uninsured Motorist coverage is essential to making sure you’re fully protected after an accident. While these limits determine how much your insurance will cover, they don’t always cover everything. Knowing your policy and having the right support can make all the difference. If you need help navigating your insurance claim or understanding your coverage, reach out to our uninsured motorist accident lawyers for guidance.