The requirement to purchase car insurance imposes a significant financial obligation on motorists. Many people try to keep those costs as low as possible by shopping around and only purchasing what Maryland state law requires.
Liability coverage is what the law mandates. Drivers generally need to have at least $15,000 in property damage liability coverage. There are also two minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury liability protection. If someone injures or kills one person in a crash, they should have at least $30,000 in coverage. For collisions that involve two or more injured parties, the minimum coverage requirement is $60,000.
Some motorists choose to invest in extra coverage on their policies. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are common additions to standard policies.
What do these forms of insurance provide?
Uninsured motorist coverage is relatively easy for people to understand. It protects someone involved in a crash caused by someone without state-mandated insurance. It will also cover costs generated in hit-and-run collisions where people cannot identify the driver at fault for the wreck. Uninsured motorist protection is a popular inclusion on modern policies because it lets people set their own coverage amounts instead of leaving them at the mercy of others.
Underinsured motorist coverage can benefit those who have severe injuries after a crash. $30,000 worth of injury coverage may not be enough if someone needs surgery or a lengthy stay at a rehabilitation facility. The person hurt may have so much in medical costs that insurance cannot help at all with their lost wages.
Underinsured motorist coverage can apply to the same expenses that liability coverage would pay for if the driver at fault for the crash had adequate insurance. Spinal cord injuries, amputations, brain injuries and other catastrophic injuries could cost far more than what insurance typically covers. Those who purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist protection may feel more confident about driving because they know their own policy can help if they ever end up severely hurt in a wreck.
Many drivers carry such coverage but also try to avoid using it, as a large claim could increase their premiums in the future. Filing a personal injury lawsuit is another way to obtain appropriate compensation when the driver at fault for a crash has inadequate insurance.