Legal Matters
presented by: Frank S. Buck P.C., Personal Injury
You may have heard that it is mandatory in Alabama to have a minimal liability auto insurance policy. That means drivers are supposed to carry at least $25,000 of liability insurance by Alabama state law. However, a large percentage of drivers on the Alabama roads still drive daily without any insurance. We have cases coming in on a regular basis with serious injuries and auto collisions, where the person that caused the wreck had no liability insurance. That is where the difference of liability insurance and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage comes into play. Liability insurance protects other people if you cause a wreck and injure another person. However, if another driver hits you and either does not have enough injury to compensate you for your injuries or does not have insurance at all, that is when your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage will pay for your injuries and medical bills.
In Alabama if you purchase liability coverage, uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory on your policy unless you specifically reject it in writing. You should never reject it. Also, in today’s internet world, an application to buy auto insurance is right at your fingertips. You never meet an agent in person and you electronically sign these policies. Many people reject uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage because it adds a minimal amount to their premium, but do not realize what it is for. You do not need to reject it in person or online! Carefully read your policies and know what you are getting and paying for. A Typical Rejection of uninsured/uninsured motorist coverage on a policy looks like this. Do Not Sign It!
Rejection of UM/UIM Coverage:
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical expenses and injures caused by a driver with no liability insurance up to the amount of policy limits you pay for. Underinsured motorist coverage carries the same amount of policy limits that you pay for as uninsured motorist coverage, but will pay for injuries and medical expenses that you incur from a wreck caused by a driver with liability insurance limits less than the amount of your injuries and damages.
I have read the above explanation of Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage in its entirety.
___________ I reject Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in its entirety.
_____________________ _______________________
Applicant/Named Insured Policy Number
_____________________ _______________________
Signature Date
There is a common misconception that this coverage is expensive and unnecessary and therefore, many people choose to reject it. The cost difference of your monthly premium to add this insurance coverage to your policy is not very expensive compared to the benefits of having this coverage. For example, you may be able to pay for $50,000 of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, for an extra $10 on your monthly premium. Uninsured motorist coverage is the only way you will be compensated if you are injured by a person who failed to keep insurance on their automobile.
-Frank S. Buck, P.C., Attorneys at Law have been offering professional legal services and serving Alabama citizens for over 45 years. We have experienced trial attorneys who have over 100 years of combined trial experience. You can reach us 24 hours a day at (205) 933-7533. Please call us for a free consultation. Visit us at www.franksbuckpc.com.
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