Every motorist on the road has an obligation to drive responsibly. Regrettably, though, this does not always happen. In fact, about 160,000 vehicles were in traffic accidents in Lousiana in 2019 alone. Many of the drivers of these vehicles undoubtedly breached their legal duty to drive responsibly.
You should not have to pay for medical care and vehicle repairs that directly stem from someone else’s bad driving. If the responsible driver does not have sufficient liability insurance, you may have to do just that. Consequently, for at least three reasons, you probably want to add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to your insurance policy.
1. You receive financial compensation
According to one estimate, 11.7% of Pelican State drivers did not have liability insurance in 2019. If you happen to have a collision with one of these drivers, he or she may not have the financial resources to cover your damages. If you have an uninsured/underinsured motorist provision in your policy, though, you can probably pursue financial compensation from your insurance company.
2. Your expenses may be considerable
Recovering from a car accident can take a substantial amount of time, effort and money. If you lack uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you may have to pay out of pocket for every doctor you see, every procedure you have and every medication you take. Sadly, without your own insurance, your growing medical bills may ruin your credit score and drive you toward bankruptcy.
3. Your premiums may increase
While having your premiums increase may seem like a downside to purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, the opposite is true. Because insurance companies tend to raise rates in places where uninsured drivers are common, paying more for coverage typically means you have an increased risk of having a collision with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Ultimately, while you may not love the thought of paying for someone else’s irresponsibility, including uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your policy may give you some valuable peace of mind.
