A potential new client calls:
“I’ve just been rear-ended in a vehicle crash. I am injured. The other driver said he has no insurance.”
I then ask the question:
“Do you have uninsured motorist coverage on the policy covering your vehicle?”
I get THE answer:
“Yes, I have ‘full coverage.’ ”
(Attorney Note: Determining all coverages under all policies in existence at the time of the crash is a must!)
Does “Full Coverage” mean you have “Uninsured Motorist Coverage?”
You have been told you have “full coverage.” You may not have uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is not legally required. Uninsured motorist coverage is an optional coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is relatively inexpensive. If you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, trouble may be on the way.
Example:
You’re on the I-10, driving without a care in the world.
Wham!
Rear ended.
The other driver gives you his insurance company and policy number covering his car.
You are in pain.
You go home.
You call his insurance.
Bad news.
They never heard of him.
They never heard of the vehicle he owned.
The at-fault driver has no insurance.
You know you have “full coverage.”
You’ve been told you have “full coverage.”
You say, “Okay, fine, I’ll go under my uninsured motorist coverage–it pays for the same bodily injury losses.”
Worse news.
You find out you have no uninsured motorist coverage.
“Full coverage” does not necessarily mean you have uninsured motorist coverage.
You find out “full does not mean full.”
You have a problem.
“Uninsured motorist coverage” is your protection against an uninsured at-fault driver.
When you’ve been told you have “full coverage,” demand to know:
What does that mean?
What coverages don’t I have?
What exactly is covered by each coverage I don’t have?
How much is each coverage I do not have?
Does “Full Coverage” mean you have “Underinsured Motorist Coverage?”
You have been told you have “full coverage.”
You may not have underinsured motorist coverage.
Underinsured motorist coverage is not legally required.
Underinsured motorist coverage is an optional coverage.
Underinsured motorist coverage is relatively inexpensive.
If you don’t have underinsured motorist coverage, trouble may be on the way.
Example:
You’re on the I-17, driving without a care in the world.
Wham!
Rear ended.
The other driver gives you his insurance company and policy number covering his car.
You are in pain.
You are taken by ambulance to a hospital.
You find out while there, your hospital bill alone will be about $ 4,300.00.
You go home.
You call his insurance.
Good news.
They have heard of him.
They have heard of the vehicle he owned.
There is bodily injury liability insurance.
Bad news.
It’s a minimum vehicle policy.
There is only $ 15,000 available to pay for your bodily injury claims.
Months later, you remain in pain.
Medical bills have accumulated.
You know you have “full coverage.”
You’ve been told you have “full coverage.”
You say, “Okay, fine, I’ll go under my underinsured motorist coverage–it pays for the same bodily injury losses in excess of the $ 15,000.”
Worse news.
You find out you have no underinsured motorist coverage.
“Full coverage” does not necessarily mean you have underinsured motorist coverage.
You find out: “full does not mean full.”
You have a problem.
“Underinsured motorist coverage” is your protection against an underinsured at-fault driver.
When you’ve been told you have “full coverage,” demand to know:
What does that mean?
What coverages don’t I have?
What exactly is covered by each coverage I don’t have?
How much is each coverage I do not have?
Does “Full Coverage” mean you have “Medical Payments Coverage?”
You have been told you have “full coverage” under your auto policy.
You may not have medical payments coverage.
Medical Payments Coverage is not legally required.
Medical Payments Coverage is an optional coverage.
Medical Payments Coverage is relatively inexpensive.
Example:
You’re on the SR 51, driving without a care in the world.
Wham!
Rear ended.
You are in pain.
You go to the hospital.
The hospital charges you $ 1000.00.
You know you have “full coverage.”
You’ve been told you have “full coverage.”
You say, “Okay, fine, I’ll get the hospital charges paid under my medical payments coverage.”
Bad news.
You find out you have no medical payments coverage.
“Full coverage” does not necessarily mean you have medical payments coverage.
You find out: “full does not mean full.”
You have a problem.
“Medical payments coverage” is your protection that your reasonable expenses of necessary medical care caused by the vehicle crash will be paid.
When you’ve been told you have “full coverage,” demand to know:
- What does that mean?
- What coverages don’t I have?
- What exactly is covered by each coverage I don’t have?
- How much is each coverage I do not have?
If you were in a car accident in Arizona, or if one of your loved ones was a victim of a car accident in Arizona, The Mayro Law Firm may be able to help. Auto accident attorney Jerrold Mayro has over three decades of experience handling personal injury claims, and has obtained millions of dollars in compensation. To set up a free consultation with Jerrold, call The Mayro Law Firm today at (602) 604-8400.