Understanding UM Coverage in PA and NJ
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is a crucial part of protecting yourself on the road. Even though all drivers are legally required to carry insurance, many still drive without it, or with too little. If you’re injured in a crash caused by one of these drivers, uninsured motorist coverage can help ensure you’re not left paying the bill.
Coverage for uninsured motorists can help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. A related form, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, applies when the other driver has some insurance, but not enough to fully cover your losses.
Don’t wait until after an accident to find out you’re underinsured. Review your policy, understand your options, and strongly consider adding or increasing UM/UIM coverage. If you’ve already been injured in an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, reach out to a local Bucks County personal injury attorney who understands Pennsylvania and New Jersey laws and can fight for your rights.
Is UM Coverage Available in Pennsylvania?
Yes. In Pennsylvania, UM and UIM coverage is optional but highly recommended. If you’re injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, this coverage can be the difference between financial recovery and financial ruin.
Pennsylvania also offers something called stacking, which allows you to multiply your UM/UIM limits based on how many vehicles are insured on your policy. For example, if you have $100,000 in UM coverage and two vehicles on your policy, stacking would increase your total available UM coverage to $200,000.
Stacking can be applied across multiple vehicles on a single policy or across multiple policies (if you have separate policies for different cars). Policyholders must opt into stacking, it is not automatic.
What About in New Jersey?
New Jersey drivers also have access to UM and UIM coverage, though the rules are a bit different. Like Pennsylvania, this type of coverage is optional. In New Jersey, UM and UIM coverage limits can’t exceed the liability limits of your own policy, and stacking is not permitted. This makes selecting high enough limits especially important for NJ drivers.
Additionally, many New Jersey drivers select the basic policy, which does not include UM/UIM protection at all. This can leave them dangerously exposed in a crash with an uninsured driver.
Coverage for uninsured motorists can help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. A related form, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, applies when the other driver has some insurance, but not enough to fully cover your losses.
UM/UIM coverage becomes critically important after:
- A hit-and-run accident where the driver is never identified
- Collisions with drivers who have no insurance or are only carrying the state minimum
- Any serious accident where your medical bills and losses exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits
Accidents where the other driver’s policy limits are too low to cover expenses are stressful situations. Working with a legal professional can make all the difference. A skilled Bucks County personal injury attorney can help navigate your own insurance policy, file the necessary claims, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Are you trying to financially recover after a collision with a driver who was not adequately insured? The seasoned lawyers at Kevin L. Hand, P.C. can review your coverage and assist you in maximizing your recovery. Call 215-515-2604 to schedule a confidential consultation.
