Automobile Insurance: WHAT'S WHAT
Many people are confused, and understandably so, by the different types of automobile coverage available to them. You may be injured in an automobile wreck by a driver who has no insurance, or a small amount of insurance. To protect your rights, not only should you obtain coverage to pay any liability you may incur because of an accident caused by you, but is is also against a driver who is either uninsured or does not have enough insurance.
UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE
Uninsured motorist coverage provides coverage by your insurance company if you are struck by a person who has no insurance. Your insurance company will pay damages to you for the injury you suffered (up to the limits of the policy you purchased). In Ohio, the Ohio legislature has required that all insurance carriers must offer uninsured coverage to citizens of Ohio. For example:
Q. You are stopped at a red light and struck from behind by another car. Who pays for your bodily injury?
A. If the person who struck you in insured, his or her insurance company will pay for your injuries (up to the limits of his or her policy). However, if the person is uninsured, then your insurance company will pay you for your personal injuries through your uninsured motorist policy (up to the limits of the policy).
UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE
In addition to uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage must also be offered to citizens of Ohio. Underinsured motorist coverage provides that if you are struck by a person that has insurance, but the insurance coverage is not sufficient to pay for the damages caused to you, your insurance company will pay you for the additional damage, up to the limits of the policy you purchased. An example might be helpful:
Q. You are stopped at a red light and struck from behind by a motorist who has insurance. The limits of his policy are $12,500, but you are seriously injured and require surgery. Your medical bill exceed $15,000. Who is to pay for these damages?
A. The other driver's insurance company will pay the $12,000 to you, and, if you have underinsured motorist coverage, you can pursue an action against your own insurance company (up to the limits of your underinsured policy) for the additional injury you suffered.
It is therefore very important t have uninsured
and underinsured motorist coverage to protect you against the driver
who is either uninsured or has a very small insurance policy.
Injuries sustained in an automobile wreck can be very severe, debilitating and
of curse can end in death. It is most important that you protect yourself, and
your family members who are driving with you, by purchasing insurance that
protects you against others on the road who are not financially able to
compensate you for serious injuries they may cause you.
Mary Frances Szaller and Shirley,
Registered Nurses at Brown & Szaller,
were recently certified by the National Institute of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland
for MEDLAR searches
(review of medical literature on file at the National Library of Medicine
and affiliates of the National Institutes of Health).
Good job Fran and Shirley!