You may or may not be aware of it, but before the coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a national emergency by President Donald Trump in March of 2020, a significant number of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck. Imagine how it is now with millions of Americans losing their jobs, large businesses filing bankruptcy and shutting down permanently, mom and pop businesses closing down for good, and all the layoffs across the country – it’s a grim scene.
When people can’t afford to pay the rent or mortgage or put food on the table, they’re not going to pay certain bills. They may not pay their cell phone bill. They may not pay their health insurance. They may stop paying their credit cards, and they may let their auto insurance policy lapse. What does this mean to all the insured drivers? It means that if they’re in an accident with an uninsured driver, they may not have enough coverage.
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you, the policyholder if you’re in a crash with an uninsured motorist. The coverage protects YOU if you are injured or if your car is damaged by an uninsured driver. Under South Carolina law, drivers are required to carry uninsured motorist coverage that is at least equal to the state’s minimum liability requirements, which is (25/50/25).
But what about underinsured motorist coverage? That covers you if an at-fault driver causes an accident but his or her insurance is not enough to cover your medical bills or damages. Unlike uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist is not legally required. All auto insurance carriers are required to offer the coverage, but drivers are not required to buy it.
With so many people financially impacted by the coronavirus, it’s safe to say the percentage of uninsured drivers could rise accordingly. So, it’s something to keep in mind. While you have uninsured motorist coverage, if you don’t have underinsured coverage, now would be a good time to get it. You never know; someone may reduce their policy limits to save a few bucks, especially when their income has been interrupted due to COVID-19.
To file a car accident claim, we invite you to contact our firm today.