Wisconsin law requires all automobile operators to carry auto insurance. At the very minimum, drivers are required to have liability and uninsured motorist coverage. The insurance marketplace provides many different options to choose from and deciding on the appropriate policy can be complex. The following is a primer for the basic types of auto insurance available.
Liability Coverage
There are two types of liability coverage – bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage, both are required for automobile operators to have in the state of Wisconsin.
If you are at fault for causing an accident that leaves others injured, bodily injury liability coverage protects you from their claims up to the specified amounts in the insurance policy for medical expenses, lost wages and other losses. It does not protect you or your vehicle directly.
Property damage liability coverage pays for damages caused to the property of others up to the stated amount provided by the policy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you and your passengers in case of injuries caused in a car accident by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or in the case of a hit-and-run scenario. This coverage ensures there are funds to compensate for your losses at the expense of another driver. This coverage is also required by law.
Underinsured Motorists Coverage
Underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage expands the bodily injury protection to you and others in your vehicle up to the amount of coverage you purchase if the person who caused the accident has a lower limit of bodily injury liability coverage than your UIM coverage limits.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage pays for the physical damage to your vehicle resulting from hitting another vehicle or a stationary object, or if your vehicle overturns. Even if you are at fault for the collision, your insurer will pay for repairs. Such coverage will pay for vehicle repairs up to the amount equal to the vehicle’s value prior to the accident.
Medical Payments Coverage
Payment for medical or funeral expenses for you or others injured or killed in an accident is covered by insurance known as medical payments coverage. These payments usually cover remaining expenses that are not covered by health insurance. Payments will be made even if you were the at-fault party.
Contact a personal injury attorney
If you or a loved one is injured in a driving accident that results in medical attention, contact an attorney to discuss the options available. The personal injury attorneys at Herrling Clark Law Firm are highly experienced in recovering compensation for those who have been injured in driving accidents and can provide consultation at no cost.