Auto Accident Attorney

Stay Protected On The Road

With the downturn of the economy, some may decide to reduce or stop their auto insurance coverage. If so, they become an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

In Arizona, a vehicle is required to have minimal liability insurance: for bodily injury, only $15,000.00 per person, (up to $30,000.00 per accident); and for property damage, only $10,000.00. Obviously, these minimums are not always enough to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damage caused by an accident.

Arizona law does not require each automobile policy to have uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage. Each insurance company is simply required to offer such coverage in writing, but you may decline. Even drivers who do have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may not have enough. Sometimes a driver claims to have “full coverage,” only to find out – after an accident, of course – that he or she does not have uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage.

The probability of an accident being caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist is high, and with money tight, there could be more of those drivers. If you are in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may have to use your own insurance, or you pay for it yourself. If the accident was caused by an uninsured motorist, and you have “collision” coverage, that coverage will repair or replace your vehicle regardless of who caused the accident. If you have no collision coverage, you may have to pay for the repairs or replace your car yourself if it is totaled. If the accident was caused by an underinsured motorist, then your collision coverage would cover the difference between that driver’s insurance and the repair or replacement amount. If you have no collision coverage, you are paying the difference.

After an accident caused by an uninsured driver, rental car expenses are covered only if you have rental car coverage. Rental car coverage is not included in “comprehensive” or collision coverage. If the accident was caused by an underinsured driver, his or her policy will cover your rental car subject to the terms of that policy.

If you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, and you have no uninsured motorist coverage, you may have to pay for your medical bills with your health insurance, automobile “med-pay” coverage or your own money. “Med-pay” is no-fault health insurance that you may purchase to cover anyone in your car injured in an accident. Med-pay coverage is not required by Arizona law, and only pays for your accident-related medical bills.

If the accident was caused by an underinsured motorist, and that driver’s policy is not enough to pay for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, then your underinsured motorist coverage should step in to take care of the uncovered amount. If you do not have underinsured motorist coverage, then your unpaid medical bills would have to be paid by your health insurance, med-pay or you.