M.P. McQueen of "The Wall Street Journal" reports that:
More drivers are letting their car insurance lapse because of the sour economy, putting themselves and others at risk……..
Ms. McQueen quoted Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, as saying:
"A good proportion of people on the road are either uninsured or underinsured, and so you have to protect yourself… "
"Your odds of being in an accident with an uninsured driver are substantial."
As I reported in my "Full Coverage" article:
Minimum insurance limits in the South Carolina are mandated by S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140 and at the present time are 25,000/50,000/25,000. Likewise, UM, or uninsured coverage is mandatory but you should carry higher than the minimum limits.
Insurance coverages that protect you when someone is uninsured, underinsured, or is covered with Allstate are below: (insurance companies don’t want you to know about them because it costs them money in the long run):
- UIM– In accordance with S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77–160, this is optional coverage you can purchase in the event that damages are sustained in excess of the liability limits carried by an at-fault insured (driver) or underinsured motorist. Remember minimum coverage is $25,000.00 per one person.
- UM–This is uninsured coverage and essentially your insurance company will defend the at fault person against you. HUH? Read it again. That’s right! You’re own insurance company defends the uninsured person against you. Why? Insurance companies don’t make money paying you money, that includes your insurance company. Call and ask them if you think I am being untruthful.
- PIP/MEDPAY– This is the greatest insurance ever. If you do not have it, you’re an idiot. It’s cheap, too.
- GAP Coverage-Gap insurance covers the difference between what the insurance company says your car is worth versus what’s left on your car loan, or note.