The True Cost of Uninsured Motorist & Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Washington State
Do not undermine the value of uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. If you have been injured in an accident it’s crucial that you contact a Seattle car accident lawyer. King 5 TV recently reported that approximately 17% of all motorists in Washington State now have no insurance, and these numbers are on the rise. Washington currently ranks 10th highest in the nation when it comes to the number of uninsured drivers.
Why is this pattern emerging? It turns out that there is a direct correlation to the unemployment numbers. When people lose their jobs, they cut out certain expenses that they believe is expendable. Too often they will reduce or eliminate their automobile insurance coverage. This can prove to be a costly mistake.
While the law only requires that a driver have at least $25,000 in liability insurance, this amount may not go far, especially given the high cost of medicine today. Purchasing as much UM/UIM coverage you can afford is the best way to protect yourself from potentially having to deal with surreal costs of an injury. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths. If a family member has died as a result of an automobile or motor vehicle accident, contact a Seattle wrongful death attorney to go over your options.
An interesting story online illustrated a clear picture of how important UM/UIM coverage really is. A few months ago, a woman was rear ended by another motorist who was uninsured. The other driver was a young 25 year old man with no job and no automobile insurance. The collision he caused resulted in about $8,000 of damages to the women’s’ car. On top of that, the whiplash caused significant injuries to her neck and spine, and resulted in 2 surgeries. The medical bills topped $80,000, which her health insurance carrier only paid about 70%.
Unfortunately, because she had declined UM/UIM coverage years ago in order to save $100 a year, her car accident lawyer couldn’t get any recourse against the other driver. If she sued the young man, she wouldn’t have been able to collect anything from him because he had no assets. When all is said and done, more than $20,000 was paid out of her own pocket for an accident she didn’t cause.
Had adequate UM/UIM coverage been purchased, her insurance company could have paid her that difference. For a seasoned Seattle car accident attorney servicing Washington call the law offices of Carrington Nuamah at 206.965.8726 today for a consultation.
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