Now more than ever, it’s important for Michigan motorists to ensure they have sufficient insurance protection against the potential cost of catastrophic injuries. Recent changes in the state’s no-fault auto insurance law mean a lot of motorists no longer have unlimited protection against the costs related to car accident injuries. You now have the option to choose limited amounts of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance for your vehicle. Those limits might be reached quickly if you are seriously injured and require hospitalization and extensive medical treatment, but optional coverage might cover the additional amount.
How Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Works
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage pays the costs that other insurance policies don’t when you are injured by a car accident. Those costs could include hospitalization, pain and suffering, and lost income. An experienced car accident attorney in Michigan drivers retains to uphold their legal rights can help to determine when you have valid claims that you could file if you have the optional uninsured/underinsured motorist protection.
As its name implies, the insurance coverage will pay costs that exceed the existing policy limits for your PIP insurance or the liability insurance that an at-fault driver might have. Instead of suing the negligent driver, you could file a claim due to that driver being underinsured. The same is true for any damage to your vehicle and any property that might also be damaged or destroyed in the accident if the amount exceeds the liability protection the negligent driver might have on the offending vehicle.
Protect Against Uninsured Drivers
Michigan is home to some of the nation’s costliest auto insurance rates and has been for many decades. The relatively high cost of insuring vehicles also has made the state second-highest in the nation for the rate of uninsured motorists. More than a fourth of all vehicles in Michigan are uninsured. Such a high rate of uninsured motorists makes it much more likely that you might be struck by a negligent driver who does not have auto insurance. There’s also a good chance uninsured drivers will flee and become hit-and-run drivers, which automatically are treated as uninsured for auto insurance purposes.
How Your Attorney Could Help
When you are struck by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your attorney can help you understand how your auto insurance should work. Your attorney can help you to file strongly supported claims for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage if you have the optional insurance for your vehicle. Once filed, your attorney can make sure the insurer offers a fair settlement and pays your claim in a timely manner to prevent financial hardships from affecting you.