What does Allstate uninsured motorist cover?

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Allstate's uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and—where available by state—vehicle repairs if an at-fault driver has no auto insurance.

✅ What Allstate UM Coverage Includes

  • 📊 Bodily Injury (UMBI)
    • Doctor and hospital visits
    • Rehabilitation and physical therapy
    • Lost wages from missed work
    • Pain and suffering
  • 🚗 Property Damage (UMPD)
    • Vehicle repair costs
    • Rental car costs (up to limits)
    • Subject to state availability and a deductible
  • 🔎 Special Situations
    • Hit-and-run accidents (in many states)
    • Accidents where you are a pedestrian hit by an uninsured driver

What is not covered under uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage does not pay for your own vehicle damage in some states, intentional crashes, or accidents where you are at fault.

What UM Coverage Leaves Out

  • At-fault accidents: UM coverage only applies if the other driver is legally at fault and lacks insurance. It does not pay if you cause the crash.
  • Property damage in certain states: Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is not available or not included by default everywhere. If you live in a state where UMPD isn't offered, you must rely on your own collision coverage to fix your car.
  • Intentional acts: If an uninsured driver deliberately rams your car or causes a purposeful crash, insurance companies usually deny the claim.
  • Unidentified hit-and-run property damage (in some areas): While hit-and-run crashes are generally covered, certain states require you to physically identify the other driver before property damage is paid out.
  • Exceeded policy limits: If the other driver has some insurance, but their limits are too low for your total bills, standard UM coverage won't help. You need separate underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage for that gap.
  • Driving for hire: Using your personal vehicle for commercial purposes—like ridesharing (Uber or Lyft) or commercial delivery—without a specialized commercial rider usually voids personal UM protections.

What is the disadvantage of uninsured motorist coverage?

The main disadvantage of uninsured motorist coverage is that it increases your regular auto insurance premium.

Key Disadvantages

  • Higher Costs: Adding uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage raises your monthly or annual insurance bill.
  • Strict Policy Limits: Your payout is capped by the maximum limit you choose on your policy, meaning severe accidents with massive medical bills can still leave you paying out of pocket if costs exceed that limit.
  • Potential Claim Disputes: Even though you are filing a claim with your own insurance company, disagreements can still happen regarding who was at fault or what your injuries and damages are truly worth.
  • Deductibles: Some types of uninsured motorist property damage coverage may require you to pay a deductible before your vehicle repairs are covered.

You can check out State Farm for more details on how coverage risks work.

What happens if an uninsured driver gets hit by an insured driver?

An uninsured driver who gets hit by an insured driver (who is at fault) can file a claim against the insured driver's liability insurance, but they will also face severe legal penalties for driving without insurance.

Claims and Payouts

  • Property Damage: The uninsured driver can file a claim with the at-fault insured driver's property damage liability coverage to fix their car, though payouts are restricted by the policy limits.
  • Medical Bills: In at-fault states, the uninsured driver can file a claim against the insured driver's bodily injury liability. In no-fault states, uninsured drivers are typically expected to pay their own medical costs out of pocket if they lack required Personal Injury Protection (PIP).
  • Lawsuits: If damages exceed policy limits, the uninsured driver can try to sue the insured driver, but state laws and comparative fault rules may limit their ability to recover compensation.

Legal and Personal Consequences for the Uninsured Driver

  • Traffic Citations: Police will be called, and the uninsured driver will likely receive hefty fines, tickets, or a citation for driving without proof of insurance.
  • License and Registration Suspension: Most states will suspend the uninsured driver's driver's license and vehicle registration.
  • Vehicle Impoundment: The police may have the uninsured driver's car towed and impounded at the scene.

Is it better to have uninsured motorist or collision coverage?

You do not need to choose between them, because Collision Coverage and Uninsured Motorist Coverage protect you from different risks and work best together.

Key Differences

  • Collision Coverage: Pays to fix or replace your car if you hit another car, an object (like a tree), or roll your car. It pays regardless of who is at fault, but it comes with a deductible (the amount you pay first).
  • Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and car repairs if an uninsured or hit-and-run driver hits you and is at fault. It often has a lower or zero deductible, and it covers personal injuries that collision insurance ignores.

Which Is Better For You?

  • Collision is broader for property damage: It protects your car if you cause a single-car crash, if a driver with insurance hits you, or if an uninsured driver hits you. Many drivers on Reddit agree that if you can only pick one for car repairs, collision is safer because it applies to any accident type.
  • Uninsured Motorist is crucial for medical bills: Collision coverage only fixes your car. It does not pay for your hospital bills or injuries if an uninsured driver crashes into you.

Allstate Uninsured Motorist Coverage

9 related questions found

Is it good to reject uninsured motorist coverage?

Rejecting uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is generally not recommended because roughly 1 in 8 drivers in the U.S. carry no insurance at all, leaving you personally responsible for medical bills and repair costs if they hit you.

Why People Reject UM Coverage

  • Lower premiums: Skipping this option saves a small amount on your recurring auto insurance bill.
  • Perceived redundancy: Some drivers assume their own health insurance or collision coverage is enough.

Risks of Rejecting UM Coverage

  • Out-of-pocket medical bills: Standard health insurance may not cover lost wages, pain and suffering, or high deductibles, and health insurers often demand repayment out of any settlement.
  • No vehicle protection: Without uninsured motorist property damage or collision coverage, you pay for your own car repairs after a crash caused by an uninsured driver.
  • State mandates: Many states require UM coverage by law, meaning you cannot reject it even if you want to.

Am I covered if hit by an uninsured driver?

You are only covered if you carry specific Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Collision coverage on your own auto insurance policy.

If the other driver has no insurance, their liability policy cannot pay for your losses. Your own insurance company steps in to help, but only if you bought the right protection ahead of time.

Types of Coverages That Help

  • Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): Pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and recovery costs if you or your passengers get hurt.
  • Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD): Pays to fix your car in states that offer and require this specific option.
  • Collision Coverage: Pays to fix your car if you do not have UMPD or if your state does not offer it, minus your deductible.
  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay): Helps cover immediate medical costs regardless of who caused the crash, depending on state rules. You can learn more about how these options compare through Progressive.

What Happens If You Do Not Have UM Coverage?

  • You must pay for car repairs using your own collision insurance (and pay your deductible).
  • You may have to pay medical bills out of your own pocket or use your health insurance.
  • You can try to sue the at-fault driver directly in court, but collecting money from someone who cannot afford insurance is often difficult.

What not to tell your insurance company?

Never admit fault, apologize, or downplay your injuries when speaking to an insurance adjuster after an accident.

Statements to Avoid

  • "I'm sorry" or "It was my fault": Insurers treat apologies as a legal admission of liability, which can reduce or eliminate your compensation.
  • "I'm fine" or "I'm not hurt": Adrenaline can mask severe conditions like internal bleeding or traumatic brain injuries that appear days later. Early statements that you are fine are used to deny later claims.
  • Guesses or speculation: Never estimate speeds, distances, or timing. Stick strictly to objective facts you know for certain.
  • Recorded statements: You can decline requests for a recorded interview until you consult legal counsel, as adjusters use these recordings to trap you in inconsistencies.

Safe Communication Guidelines

  • Provide only basic facts like the date, time, location, and your contact or policy details.
  • Refer the adjuster to a qualified Car Accident Lawyer to manage further discussions and protect your rights.

Will an insurance company go after an uninsured motorist?

Yes, an insurance company will often go after an at-fault uninsured motorist to recover the money it paid out to its own policyholder.

The Subrogation Process

  • Definition: Insurance companies use a legal process called subrogation to seek repayment from a liable party.
  • Action: After your insurer pays for your medical bills or vehicle repairs using your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, they step into your legal shoes to demand reimbursement.
  • Demand Letters: The insurer usually starts by sending a written demand letter to the uninsured driver detailing the losses and requesting payment.

Legal Action and Limitations

  • Lawsuits: If the uninsured driver ignores the demand or refuses to pay, the insurance company can file a civil lawsuit against them in court.
  • Collection Methods: If the insurer wins a judgment, they can pursue lawful collection remedies like wage garnishment or property liens.
  • Asset Reality: Opinions on Reddit are mixed regarding how often this succeeds; many insurance companies choose not to sue if the driver has no valuable assets or money to collect (a concept known as being "judgment proof").

Do you need uninsured motorist coverage if you have full coverage?

Yes, you need uninsured motorist coverage even if you have "full coverage," because standard full coverage does not include it.

Why Full Coverage is Not Enough

  • Medical Bills: "Full coverage" typically means comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision pays to fix your car, but it does not pay for your medical bills if an uninsured driver hits you.
  • Bodily Injury: Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage pays for your hospital visits, medical care, and lost wages.
  • Property Damage: While collision overlaps with uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) for car repairs, UMBI for people is completely separate.

When You Still Need It

  • No Health Insurance: If you do not have health insurance, uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries after a crash.
  • Hit-and-Run: It protects you if a driver hits your car and flees the scene before you can get their name or insurance.
  • Underinsured Drivers: Many drivers carry only the state minimum limit. If their limit is too low for your total bills, underinsured motorist coverage pays the rest.
  • State Rules: Read your policy details or check resources like Allstate to see what your state requires.