Imagine driving down the road and getting into a catastrophic accident in Philadelphia–the kind that results in serious, permanent injuries. You spend weeks in the hospital and your career is over because of the extent of your injuries. Assume that the driver of the car that hit you had no insurance at all. In this scenario, if you do not have uninsured coverage, you will recover nothing and will be left to face the economic consequences of the accident all on your own. Now assume that the driver of the car that hit you had a minimum policy worth only $15,000. In that scenario, if you do not have underinsured coverage, you will only recover the $15,000 and nothing else.
Right Amount of UIM/UM in Philadelphia Car Accidents
This situation is entirely avoidable by purchasing the right amount of uninsured and underinsured coverage. Under Pennsylvania car accident insurance law, the default amount equals the amount of bodily injury coverage you purchase. If you opt for amounts lower than the bodily injury coverage, you must sign a special waiver or what is called a “sign down” form.
Many times we buy car insurance without fully understanding our options and without understanding the full importance of our selections. Since 1960, the number of cars on the road in the U.S. has gradually increased. The Department of Transportation estimates that there are over 250 million cars on the roads in the country. Serious, devastating car accidents are much more common than we all think and one step we can take to protect ourselves and our families is to purchase uninsured and underinsured coverage.
For a trusted legal team that will give your case the personal attention it deserves, contact a Philadelphia injury lawyers at Morris Wilson Knepp & Jacquette today. We will provide a free, no obligation consultation on your case. 215-259-6700