Many consumers often question whether or not they
should purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage along with liability
insurance coverage on their automobiles?
The answer is most definitely "YES".
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will pay you in the
event that you are involved in an automobile accident and someone else is at
fault. It is available to you when that other person is uninsured OR does not
have enough liability insurance to compensate you for the full extent of your
loss.
Most states, including Louisiana require that all drivers
have liability insurance when operating an automobile. However, there are a significant number of
drivers who allow their insurance to lapse through failure to pay premiums in a
timely fashion. Often times these vehicles are involved in accidents before the
state catches up to these individuals.
The minimum liability coverage mandated by Louisiana law is
only $15,000 per each person injured in an accident or $30,000 maximum should
more than one be injured. If you have a significant injury as a result of an
automobile accident, the medical bills and lost wages will quickly exceed the
$15,000 per person limit.
If the individual who caused the accident had no insurance
or was underinsured, then the uninsured/underinsured provisions of your policy
would be applied over and above that which you recovered from the wrongdoer.
This will help compensate you for your injuries up to the applicable limits in
your policy. A claim against your uninsured motorist coverage does NOT count as
an at fault claim against your insurance and will not increase your premiums.
There is additional premium to be paid for
uninsured/underinsured coverage, but it is well worth it. Some insurance
companies offer uninsured/underinsured coverage for economic damages only at a
reduced premium. This reduced coverage will only pay you for medical bills and
lost income and NOT for you pain and suffering.
If you are injured in an accident, contact the lawyers at
Jim Hall & Associates for a free consultation, Call
Hall at 504‑832‑3000 or Click ‑
callhall.com.
