Do I need uninsured motorist insurance?
Experts in the insurance industry extol the benefits of having uninsured motorist insurance – above and beyond the other possible coverage you may already have. About a dozen states require uninsured motorist insurance so in those cases you have no choice. Yet in those states that do not require uninsured motorist insurance, it may still be a wise decision to consider taking this coverage.
More than being able to protect you while you are in your car, uninsured motorist insurance also extends its benefits even when you are a mere pedestrian. Say you get hit by a vehicle while you are walking on the curb and the driver is either uninsured or makes a get away. Your medical bills can be covered by your uninsured motorist insurance. More than that, you can also be compensated for any wages you may lose due to the accident.
All those virtues of uninsured motorist insurance having been laid out, it is but prudent to look at the other end of the spectrum. It is true that uninsured motorist insurance is useful. Yet you have to consider all the other benefits that you have from your insurance policy. It may be that your health insurance policy covers medical bills for you and your family in case of an accident. You may also have medical payments insurance or personal injury protection coverage already. These things would overlap with uninsured motorist insurance and the fact is, you cannot collect from all policies for the same expenses. So before you take out an uninsured motorist insurance policy, check your other policies first and see if it is worth the additional expense.