There are two types of uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance (UM or UMBI) covers you, the insured members of your household (resident relatives) and your passengers for bodily injuries, damages or death caused by an at-fault driver who doesn’t have insurance. In some states, it also applies when the at-fault driver is a hit-and-run driver or a miss-and-run driver, meaning one who forces you off the road without making contact.
The second type, uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), pays for damage to your car and is purchased separately.
UMBI also protects you and your resident relatives when riding in someone else’s vehicle, riding a bicycle or walking.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage varies according to the terms of your policy and state laws, but in general, it pays, up to the limit of your policy, for:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
In some states, pain and suffering is not covered, or is paid only when the injury meets a certain threshold, such as a permanent injury.
Policy limits for uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage are written per person and per accident. For example, 25,000/50,000 means that the maximum payout per person is $25,000 and the maximum payout for all people injured in one accident is $50,000. This coverage may also be written as 25/50.
Is uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage mandatory?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is mandatory in some states but optional in others.
States such as New York, Illinois and Oregon require drivers to carry UMBI coverage as part of their auto insurance policies. In other states, such as California and Texas, insurers must offer the coverage, but drivers can decline it in writing.
If UMBI coverage is required in your state, you must carry at least the state’s minimum coverage limits.
Recommended limits for uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
In many states, your UMBI limit defaults to your bodily injury liability limit or can’t exceed it, so the two usually go hand in hand. Insurance experts often suggest having bodily injury liability coverage of 100/300, which means $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, if it fits your budget. Matching your UMBI to this amount gives you the same protection, whether the at-fault driver has insurance or not.
What happens if I don’t have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage?
If you don’t have UMBI coverage and an uninsured driver causes an accident, you could be responsible for paying your own medical bills, lost wages and other injury-related expenses.
Your health insurance may help cover medical treatment, while personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) coverage may pay some expenses, depending on your policy. However, these coverages may not fully compensate you for lost income, pain and suffering or other damages.
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The bottom line
Even if you drive carefully, someone else’s mistake can still cause an accident. UMBI is the part of your insurance that helps in these situations, so you’re not left struggling because the other driver doesn’t have insurance.
Review your declarations page to confirm you have this coverage and check your limits. If the amount seems too low to cover the financial impact of a serious accident, talk to your insurer about whether increasing your coverage makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pay for damage to my car?
No, uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage only pays for injuries to you and your passengers if an uninsured driver causes an accident. It does not pay for damage to your car. To cover car repairs, you would need uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage, if your state offers it, or collision coverage.
Will filing a UMBI claim raise my rates?
Filing a UMBI claim doesn’t automatically mean your car insurance rates will increase. Since UMBI generally applies when another driver is at fault, some states prohibit insurers from raising your premium because of the accident.
However, the impact depends on your state’s laws and your insurer’s underwriting rules. You could still see changes to your premium or discounts at renewal. Ask your insurer how a UMBI claim could affect your rates.
Can I sue an uninsured driver instead of using my UMBI coverage?
Yes, you can, but winning in court and actually getting paid are not the same. Drivers without insurance often do not have enough savings or assets to pay a judgment, so you might spend months on a lawsuit and end up with little. This is why most people file a UMBI claim first.
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