Different states have different car insurance requirements, and that means that uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not a necessity everywhere. Even with this coverage, however, some accidents can end up costing victims a lot of money. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, a car accident lawyer in Queens can help you deal with the aftermath and pursue the compensation that you deserve.
What Are New York’s Requirements for Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
If you insure a car in New York State, you are going to have to pay for uninsured motorist coverage. This is for bodily injury, and the coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Your insurance company also has to give you the opportunity to buy more uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. If you purchase more than the minimum liability coverage, you should be able to increase your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to match its limits.
How Does Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Help Me?
This type of insurance company can come in handy in a variety of situations. Obviously, having it can help when you are hit by a driver who is uninsured. There are more uninsured drivers around than you might guess. If you get injured by one and they have no liability coverage, you need to rely on your own insurance plan to pay out.
Sometimes drivers only carry the minimum insurance. In a particularly bad accident involving multiple people, their policy may not be enough to adequately reimburse everyone for expenses like medical bills. Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can help you here.
Finally, you should also think about hit-and-run accidents. You cannot exchange insurance info with a driver who leaves the scene, so if you are injured in an accident with a hit-and-run driver you will be glad that you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Should I Buy Extra Coverage?
You can buy more coverage than the state requires, but you do not have to. It all depends on how much protection you feel comfortable having in case of an accident. Compare policies and see how much the extra coverage will cost you, and then make your decision.
Do I Need This Coverage if I Have Health Insurance?
If you have health insurance, you may not be too worried about the bills from a car accident. However, it can still be good to have some uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to fall back on.
Health insurance plans often have a deductible, meaning that you may have to pay some of your bills out of pocket if you go through that plan. UM and UIM motorist coverage can also cover other costs of an accident, like lost wages and the medical care of passengers who do not have their own health insurance.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you were injured in a crash and you need help dealing with the insurance companies or pursuing damages, contact the Law Offices of George Poulos. We have plenty of experience helping clients fight for the compensation they deserve, so schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you.