Imagine you’re in a car accident that’s not your fault. It leaves you with sky-high medical bills, and your car needs repairs, too. Normally, the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver compensates you for those expenses.
But what if the at-fault driver doesn’t have any car insurance? Or what if their insurance can’t cover it?
This happens more often that you might think. Around one in seven drivers in the U.S. doesn’t have auto insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council (PDF) and another one in seven are underinsured (PDF). This means if you’re in an accident, there’s a decent chance the other driver will not have adequate insurance – or any insurance at all.
That’s where uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) come in. These are types of coverage you can add to your own auto insurance policy to help protect yourself and your family.
Here’s what to know about UM and UIM in South Carolina.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in South Carolina?
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in South Carolina. Drivers must carry this coverage with minimum levels of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 per accident for property damage (often written as 25/50/25).
Uninsured motorist coverage will cover you if you’re in an accident and the at-fault driver has no insurance. It can also pay out if you’re in a hit-and-run accident and it’s not possible to hold the at-fault driver responsible.
What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage in South Carolina?
Underinsured motorist coverage is NOT mandatory in South Carolina, unlike uninsured motorist coverage. Still, it’s a good idea to carry it. That’s because many drivers carry the minimum required insurance coverage, which is just $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). These limits are high enough to cover basic fender benders and minor injuries, but they will not cover all expenses after a severe accident.
With the addition of underinsured motorist coverage to your policy, you ensure that more of your expenses will be covered by your own auto insurance company after the at-fault driver’s policy has reached its limits.
Call the Car Accident Attorneys at The Carolina Law Group
Check your auto insurance policy to make sure you carry both UM and UIM coverage on your policy, and if not, consider adding them.
Were you injured in a traffic accident that wasn’t your fault? Call us here at The Carolina Law Group. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation, and we only take a fee if you recover damages, so there’s no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us at one of the numbers below to schedule your free consultation today.
The Carolina Law Group has four offices in South Carolina for your convenience: Greenville (principal office; call 864.312.4444), Greer (principal office; call 864.757.5555), Spartanburg (principal office; call 864.312.4444) & West Columbia (principal office; call 803.881.1110).
Call us at one of our four offices or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys. Our business hours are Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm & Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm. Weekend and evening hours by appointment only. Our Greenville, SC law firm offers Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati language translation services for your convenience.