Underinsured Motorists

Are you covered?

You might think that most people have insurance because it’s required by law, but one in four drivers in Hawaii is uninsured.

It’s every driver’s worst nightmare – you’re injured, can’t work and your car is wrecked but the driver that just crashed into you is uninsured.     

The law says that a person at fault in an auto accident must compensate the people he injured for their accident-related losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. Most drivers buy auto insurance to pay such losses if they ever cause an accident.   

The problem is, not everyone follows the law – around 25 percent of drivers in Hawaii are uninsured. The cost of car insurance keeps many drivers from buying even the minimum policy – especially in these hard economic times.

FAQs about UM/UIM coverage

Q:  What is the difference between UM and UIM coverage?

A:  Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage pays for your losses if you’re hit by someone with no insurance or by a hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage pays for your losses if you’re hit by someone who has insurance, but does not have payment limits high enough to pay for all the damage caused by the accident.

Q:  Won’t my health insurance pay for my medical treatment if I am hit by an uninsured driver?

A:  If you are injured by an uninsured driver and you do not have UM coverage, your health insurance will general pay for your medical treatment, but your health insurance will not pay for lost wages is you miss work or for pain and suffering you have from the accident.

Q:  Can’t I just sue the driver who caused the accident?

A:  You can file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver asking the court to make him pay you, but even if you win he probably won’t have enough money to pay the judgment against him because most uninsured drivers lack insurance because they cannot afford the premiums. 

If you have been in an accident and have questions about UM or UIM coverage, please call us. We can help.