Uninsured Motorist Clause - Who Is An Uninsured Motorist For The Purpose of An Uninsured Motorist Clause?

Who Is An Uninsured Motorist For The Purpose of An Uninsured Motorist Clause?

The first category of persons who may trigger an uninsured motorist provision consists of individuals who do not have liability coverage for the vehicle he or she is operating. In most states, it is a crime to be uninsured in this manner.

The next category consists of hit and run drivers. When an individual flees the scene of an accident without leaving sufficient information to identify him or herself, the individual is considered uninsured for the purposes of an uninsured motorist provision. Note, however, that a positive ID of the license plates in a hit and run accident will often be considered by insurance companies sufficient information to identify the negligent hit and run driver. Such identification will often lead to the denial of an uninsured motorist claim, as insurance companies will often litigate the claim, bringing in the registered owner of the vehicle with matching plates, even when that person denies involvement in the accident.

A third category (in some states) is a driver that does have liability coverage for his or her vehicle, but the dollar amount of that driver's liability coverage is less than the dollar amount of the victim's uninsured motorists coverage. This is sometimes also referred to as an underinsured motorist clause.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage covers your medical expenses, loss wages, and other injury related expenses in an instance where the other driver is not insured. This coverage applies only if the other party is found at fault for the incident. Depending on the state your policy is your insurance company might or might not require you to identify the other vehicle/driver. Many states will cover a hit and run incident.