What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in SC?

Uninsured motorist coverage – also called UM insurance – is a type of personal auto insurance added to your general liability and collision coverage. It provides personal injury benefits after hit-and-run accidents or collisions involving uninsured drivers. Unfortunately, UM insurance isn’t a no-fault policy. Even your company’s adjusters will attempt to deny or reduce uninsured motorist claims to protect the bottom line.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, immediately contact the experienced Conway, S.C., UM car accident lawyers at Kinon Law Firm for free by calling (843) 488-9191 or contacting our personal injury team online.

Conway Accidents Covered by Uninsured Motorist Policies

UM insurance most often kicks in after the following types of traffic accidents:

• Hit-and-runs
• Stolen vehicles/unauthorized drivers (excludes coverage)
• Uninsured drivers and vehicles
• Pedestrian hit-and-run collisions
• Lapsed coverage

Triggering uninsured motorist coverage requires your lawyer to prove that you were injured during a hit-and-run collision or by an uninsured driver. This generally means immediately calling the police to obtain a hit-and-run report and open an investigation. If the driver remained, an attorney might help you obtain an affidavit (sworn statement) of no coverage or disclaimed coverage directly from the driver or the disclaiming insurance policy.

Treating UM Insurance as the Liability Insurer

Uninsured motorist coverage stands in the place of the liability insurer. It covers drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians and cyclists injured during traffic crashes on Conway roads. Most claimants don’t know that they must still ‘prove’ their right to personal injury damages with the UM adjuster. This includes showing that the uninsured/fleeing driver negligently caused the crash and resulting damages. Your UM policy might deny your claims or attempt to reduce your payout, which is why you should always work with a dedicated UM accident lawyer in these cases.

Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in South Carolina

Uninsured motorist coverage is often bundled with underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), though these are not the same policies. South Carolina’s mandatory insurance laws require drivers to carry UM insurance at the state minimum liability insurance level ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident), but you can elect to carry higher coverage.

UIM insurance is a supplemental policy that provides additional coverage if your damages exceed the liable driver’s policy limits. For example, a traumatic brain injury resulting in ambulance transportation, hospitalization, surgery, and a few months of missed work can easily result in over $50,000 of medical damages and lost wages, not including the value of your pain and suffering damages. If the driver only carried the $25,000 state minimum coverage, you might claim additional damages from your UIM policy. However, UIM insurance is not mandatory in South Carolina. You must have added this coverage to your mandatory uninsured motorist policy before the crash.

Attorneys for Uninsured Motorist Accidents in Conway, S.C.

If you were injured in a hit-and-run collision or the liable driver didn’t have viable auto insurance, you might still recover damages through a mandatory uninsured motorist policy in South Carolina. Discuss filing the right paperwork to trigger this coverage and fighting for fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering with the dedicated UM insurance recovery lawyers at Kinon Law Firm. Call (843) 488-9191 or connect online with our Conway personal injury team for free today.