Unfortunately, many drivers try to save money by having “minimum” car insurance policies. These are policies with coverage limits that would barely cover a routine fender-bender accident. If you get into a serious auto accident and the at-fault driver has this type of auto insurance policy, you need to see what type of Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage you have.
In short, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if the other party doesn’t have any insurance, or has inadequate insurance coverage. To that end, if the at-fault driver doesn’t carry insurance, the injured party cannot get money for their injuries from the negligent driver, in which case uninsured motorist coverage would pick up the bills. This happens more than you might think.
In several states, such as Virginia, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is required. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is different but operates similarly to that of UM coverage. With UIM, the liability policy of the driver at fault is not enough to cover the injuries of the other driver and passengers. Therefore UIM would pay the difference between the at-fault driver’s policy limits the amount of available UIM coverage.
In general, UM and UIM coverage pays only for medical injuries to the driver and passengers of the hit car.
Virginia Insurance Requirements
VA drivers must certify the vehicle is covered by minimum insurance requirements or they must pay the uninsured motor vehicle fee of $500, which is paid dired to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and does not provide insurance; it only allows you to drive an uninsured vehicle at your own risk. Below are the required coverage amounts and laws.
- Bodily injury/death of one person $25,000
- Bodily injury/death of two or more persons $50,000
- Property damage $20,000
General Rules When Considering Auto Insurance
Compare quotes from more than one insurance company before signing on the dotted line.
Ask for more than one quote that shows the cost difference for different options to make sure you understand the cost and the difference in coverage.
Do not to think “cheapest” in terms of auto insurance. People are often horrified to find out just how little coverage they have should they find themselves a victim in a serious accident.
If after an accident you find yourself dealing with a claims adjuster, don’t rely on them to have your best interests at heart. Let decisions regarding your medical treatment be decided by you and your doctors. Insurance companies are known for denying and delaying don’t fall victim to their tactics.
Lastly, remember that auto insurance is more than complying with the law, it’s also for your safety and protection.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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