Many Iowans think that it will never happen to them, but car accidents are the #1 cause of accidental disability and death with more than 6 million accidents each year causing 3 million injuries and more than 42,500 deaths. That means that you have a better than 98% chance of getting into a car accident during your lifetime. Every year hundreds of Iowans are permanently disabled and killed in car accidents caused by drivers with little or no insurance. What many Iowans don’t know is that Iowa law only requires $20,000 in insurance coverage for bodily injuries. With the cost of medical care increasing each year, that barely covers a trip to the hospital and follow-up medical care. Statistically, about 12% of Iowans don’t carry any car insurance and we estimate that another 70% of Iowans don’t have enough. While the economy slows down, even less Iowans are buying insurance for their car.
What happens if you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver and cannot return to work? What can be done to protect you and your family from irresponsible and uninsured drivers? The insurance companies probably have not told you, but I will and I do not sell insurance. I have found that what most Iowans don’t know is that uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage is the only automobile insurance that protects them and their family. What does $20,000/$40,000 mean, anyway?
Whenever auto insurance coverage is expressed as $20,000/$40,000 or $300,000/$500,000, the policy is telling you what coverage is available “per person” injured in the accident and what total coverage is available to all persons injured in a single accident. So, if you have $20,000/$40,000 coverage, each injured person would be covered up to $20,000, but the total coverage available for the accident is only $40,000. If four people are hurt in the accident, the most any one person would be paid is $20,000 but all five people would have to share the total of $40,000. In this situation, if any one person’s damages exceeded $20,000, or if the entire claim of all people in the accident exceeds $40,000, you could be personally liable for what the policy did not pay.
How much coverage do you have to protect you and your family? My experience is that most Iowans do not know. If you have enough Uninsured(UM)/Underinsured(UIM) Motorist coverage and a driver who has either no insurance or not enough insurance hurts you or your family, then your insurance company will pay for your damages up to the limits of insurance coverage you purchased. Uninsured(UM) Motorist coverage is also very important because if you are the victim of a “hit and run” and the other driver is not caught, your UM coverage will provide you with protection. Okay, how much does it cost? A recent survey of the leading insurance companies shows that for most Iowa drivers the difference between $20,000 and $500,000 in coverage is less than a dollar per day. The cost for increased coverage ranged from a low of $.15 per day to a high of $.72 per day.
The content of this article contains general statements, is not intended as legal advice or legal opinions and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or rely upon the information in this article without seeking the advice of an attorney because changes in the law occur frequently and you should consult with an attorney with respect to your particular case.