Why you Need to get Uninsured/Under-Insured Coverage Today
Louisiana is hot, steamy, and full of bad drivers! Louisiana ranks among the top states for drivers who don’t have auto insurance or carry too little insurance to cover an accident. In many cases, this is a problem when an accident occurs because there isn't enough insurance available to pay for the damages to the car and the bodily injuries. What can you do to protect yourself in these cases?
Uninsured/Under-Insured Coverage is used in two scenarios:
When you are involved in an accident with another person who has no insurance.
When the person who hit you has insurance but it is too little to cover the damage and injuries you suffered.
Under-insured drivers are the more important reason to carry this type of coverage because many Louisiana drivers carry only the minimum insurance required by law, $15,000.00. This amount can disappear very quickly if you have to go to the hospital as a result of the accident or if you need any sort of surgery as a result of your injury.
Matt, isn't it expensive?
In many cases, adding this coverage can amount to only an additional $100-200 a year. There are many options to choose from but the best is to choose an UM policy amount equal to your liability insurance limits. You want to choose UM coverage that covers you in any sort of accident. There are some forms of coverage that only cover property damage or only cover bodily injury if you are unable to work; steer clear of these options because you end of paying money for coverage you may not be able to use. You want to choose coverage that will apply to any accident, and any injury.
The most important reason to have UM Coverage is that you cannot be penalized for using it. Insurance companies are prohibited by Louisiana Law from raising your rates for using UM coverage. This is because the coverage you have paid for is to protect you. If your insurance company tries to raise your premiums for using your UM coverage you can sue them and penalize them with attorney’s fees and damages. Louisiana Law encourages the purchase of UM coverage because of the fact that so many drivers are under-insured or uninsured.
Remember:
YOU WANT UM COVERAGE,
Get the coverage amount equal to your liability coverage. For example, if you carry 50,000.00 dollars in liability insurance you want 50,000 dollars in UM coverage. I recommend that you carry between 50,000 to 100,000.00 dollars in coverage if you do not own any property. If you own a home or have children, I would suggest getting more coverage. That will be a discussion in another upcoming article.
Don't be afraid you use your UM coverage if you get into an accident. Remember the Insurance Company cannot penalize you for using this coverage. It is there to protect you!
Call me to discuss your case if you get in an accident. Hiring a lawyer to represent you in these cases will ensure that you get the best results possible. Insurance companies love to deal with you directly because they know you are unfamiliar with the tactics they use to settle your case for less than what it is worth. I run up against Insurance Companies every day. I know the games they play and I won't let them off the hook that easy. Call me today to discuss: 504-300-8338.
Remember ... When no one's carin' call McLaren!
