Understanding UN-insured AND UNDER-insured Motorist Coverage

   Consumers often overlook uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage when purchasing automobile insurance policies.  Many times, insurance agents do not emphasize the importance of this type of coverage.  In fact, it can be more important than any other coverage on your policy.  Liability coverage protects you if you cause an accident.  It will pay for the damages you may cause others.  This coverage is based upon your liability for inappropriately operating your vehicle.  In other words, it provides you with coverage if you make a mistake.  This is something we all have control over.  How we drive is up to us. 

   Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you from mistakes made by others.  Uninsured motorist coverage provides protection if another driver negligently causes injury and does not have insurance.  Those are two choices the other driver makes, over which you have no control.  Underinsured motorist coverage protects you if another driver makes a mistake, and while that driver may have insurance, the insurance is insufficient to fully compensate you for your damages.  Again, two choices someone else makes over which you have control.  Therefore, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages provide protection against other people doing what they should not do.

   Uninsured motorist coverage may seem simple, but does have s ...