Do I Need to Have Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage in South Carolina?

Some states require uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, a type of car insurance that can help protect you if you are injured in a car accident with someone who does not have adequate coverage. Even with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, the costs of an accident can be quite high. If you need to pursue damages after getting injured in a collision, a Darlington County, South Carolina auto accident lawyer from our firm can help you.

Does South Carolina Require Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

If you register and insure a car in South Carolina, you are going to need to pay for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. To be more specific, you are required to have uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and uninsured motorist property damage coverage.

The minimums for bodily injury are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. The property damage coverage is for $25,000, but you will have a small deductible to pay when getting repairs. You can also buy more coverage than the state’s minimum.

What Does Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage Cover in an Accident?

As you may have guessed from the name, this type of coverage kicks in if you are in an accident with an uninsured driver or one who does not have enough insurance. There are more uninsured drivers on the road than you might think, and if you get injured in an accident with one they have no liability coverage that can pay your medical bills or for the cost of repairing your damaged vehicle.

Underinsured drivers have coverage, but just the minimum. In a big accident that coverage might not be enough. Underinsured motorist coverage can give you more money that you can use to get back on your feet.

Do I Need This Coverage If I Have Health Insurance?

Sometimes drivers do not worry too much about the costs of medical bills after a car accident because they have a health insurance plan. We think that uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can still be helpful even if you have good health insurance coverage of your own.

First of all, you do not have to worry about any deductible. A health insurance plan has a deductible, so you may be on the hook for some money if you have not already made use of your health coverage too much in a given year. It is also important to remember that uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can cover your passengers as well. So if anyone in your car does not have as robust of a health insurance plan as you do, they can benefit from your vehicle’s coverage.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, contact the James Law Office. We have plenty of experience fighting for victims, so now let us put that experience to work for you.