Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Massachusetts: What Happens If the Driver Who Hit You Has No Insurance?
TL;DR
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when the driver who caused the accident has no insurance or cannot be identified.
Underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation when the at-fault driver's insurance is not enough to cover your injuries.
You may be protected even if you do not own a car, depending on your household and the vehicle involved in the accident.
Many people do not realize that they may still be protected even when the driver who caused an accident has no insurance.
If you own a car, you likely have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of your automobile insurance policy. Even if you do not own a car, you may still be protected if you live with a household member who owns a vehicle.
A household member is generally someone related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption who lives with you.
If you do not own a car but live with a household member who does, or if neither you nor a household member owns a vehicle but you are riding in an insured vehicle at the time of an accident, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may still provide protection.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when you are injured by a vehicle that does not have insurance.
This can happen in several situations, including:
The at-fault vehicle has no insurance.
The insurance policy was canceled.
The vehicle was being driven without authorization.
The vehicle was stolen.
The accident was a hit-and-run and the vehicle cannot be identified.
When the vehicle that caused the accident is uninsured, you may be able to make a claim under the applicable uninsured motorist coverage.
Many policies also allow drivers to purchase additional uninsured motorist coverage for greater protection.
What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Underinsured motorist coverage is similar, but it applies when the vehicle that caused the accident has insurance that is insufficient to compensate you for your injuries.
For example, the other driver may carry a policy with relatively low limits while you have suffered significant injuries.
In that situation, underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation beyond what is available from the at-fault driver's policy.
The purpose of underinsured motorist coverage is to help compensate injured people when the insurance carried by the person who caused the accident is simply not enough.
Why These Coverages Matter
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are important protections.
They help ensure that people can still be compensated for their injuries even when they are struck by:
An uninsured driver.
A driver with inadequate insurance coverage.
A hit-and-run driver.
An unidentified vehicle.
These coverages can make a significant difference when an accident occurs and the responsible driver lacks sufficient insurance.
Contact Us
If you have been injured in an accident involving an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to discuss your situation and determine whether uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may be available.