Local papers are filled with stories about hit-and-run accidents. Drivers leave accident scenes for a variety of reasons. Usually, it’s because they’re high on drugs, drunk or don’t have insurance.
Every time I see a story about a hit-and-run accident, I wonder if the injured driver carried UIM insurance. Here’s an example:
Police in Seattle are making headway on identifying a mystery car that hit a young woman in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
"The Seattle Times" reports officials believe the hit-and-run vehicle to be a light-colored Honda or Toyota Coupe. The public is being asked to keep a look out for the car which police say will have obvious damage to the front.
The driver of the vehicle allegedly fled the scene at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday after hitting the woman on a crosswalk. The 24-year-old is recovering at Seattle’s Harborview.
UIM refers to uninsured and underinsured motorists. UIM insurance provides coverage if the person who hits you either doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance.
A lot of people have UIM coverage and don’t even know it. By law in Washington insurance companies have to provide UIM coverage even if they don’t collect a premium for it unless they have a signed waiver from their insured.
If you get hit by an uninsured or undersinsured motorist, the first thing you should do is to check with your insurance company to see if you have UIM coverage. If it says that you don’t, demand that it provide a copy of a signed waiver.
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