Uninsured Motorists Populate the Streets: Are you protected?

The general mentality of an individual is "it will never happen to me". We think we are invincible, when in reality you never know what will happen. That is why it is our responsibility to be pro-active and protect ourselves, especially in our cars. Extensive research shows that approximately 30% of drivers are uninsured. Note this statistic is for uninsured motorists only, not including the under insured (motorists who carry the state minimum for insurance, meaning even if they have the minimum, it will probably not cover all of the expenses).
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were involved in a wreck with a driver who was in an uninsured vehicle? If the wreck was their fault, then you, as the victim, would automatically be placed in a colossal predicament. . Senator Patrick Anderson is proposing a bill which amends the seizing of vehicles when drivers cannot show they possess valid insurance. The reasoning for his decision is because the number of uninsured motorists is continually growing. There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes. The chances are about 14 in 100 that if an insured driver is injured in an auto accident, an uninsured driver caused the crash, according to the Insurance Research Council.

Is it unfair to seize the vehicles of the uninsured? Lives are ruined everyday because of uninsured motorists. Watch this video; you may be shocked! When watching the video, please understand this is an uninsured problem, not an ethnic dilemma. Every race has uninsured motorists; bottom line, the problem needs to be fixed. Here are two different scenarios, allowing you to see what protecting yourself against uninsured motorists can do.
The first scenario involves two drivers: a victim who has liability and comp / collision, and a driver who has no insurance. Because the victim has comp and collision, their car can be fixed. However, they have to pay the deductible for a wreck that was NOT THEIR FAULT! The deductible will be the least of their worries. What will this victim do if they are injured? The medical bills could add up, they may not be capable of working, and as a result it, it could force bankruptcy. Unjust situations like this can change the course of someone's life forever, which is why we recommend you meet with us, or someone like us to discuss your coverage.
In the second scenario, the victim has the same coverage plus UMBI(Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury). After being hit by the uninsured motorist, the victim will have UMBI to cover loss of wages, medical in addition to health, and pain and suffering. UMBI is the way for you to protect yourself from irresponsible people. It will save you financially! It is imperative to know and understand the coverages you have. You should not blindly have or not have. Figure out what is right for you and make sure you are covered.



What Does UMBI Cover?

- medical

- loss of income

- pain and suffering

- also substitutes for gaps between the coverage you hold at work and personally

- UMBI will pay in the absence of coverage


Have you discussed UMBI with your agent? Have you seriously considered the consequences of being underinsured? The Szeszulski Agency urges you to call us or someone like us. It benefits you and your family when you meet with an agent and become capable of making informed and educated decisions. It is important to have someone watching out for you, whether it is us or someone like us.