Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Louisiana – YES, you want it!

Louisiana law requires every driver on the road to have a minimum level of insurance coverage in case he or she is involved in a crash. However, many drivers ignore this rule and choose to drive with either no coverage or insufficient coverage. You could be in a bind if you are involved in a crash with an uninsured driver. If you have uninsured motorist coverage under your insurance policy, your damages should be covered. However, if you elected to forgo uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you could face a stressful, expensive headache if you are involved in a crash with an uninsured driver.

WHAT IS UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE?

Uninsured motorist coverage is part of your insurance policy and will cover the damages caused by the at-fault uninsured driver. This can include your medical expenses, damaged property, and vehicular damage. This coverage will also provide coverage to you, the insured party, while you are driving your vehicle, and may also cover relatives listed under your policy, or people driving or riding in vehicles covered under your policy. This can be especially helpful if your passengers are injured in an accident with an uninsured driver.

All auto insurance policies in Louisiana include Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage. However, you have the option to waive (deny) this coverage or decrease the level of coverage if you so choose. While choosing to forgo or reduce uninsured motorist coverage may make your insurance slightly more affordable, it can make the aftermath of an accident drastically more expensive, stressful, and difficult to receive the compensation you deserve.

As with other types of insurance coverage, uninsured motorist coverage covers only certain things. Even with uninsured motorist coverage, you may still not be able to receive the compensation you deserve. To find out how much your policy covers, review your insurance policy or contact your insurance company to learn more.

SO WHAT DO I DO IF I’M IN AN ACCIDENT?

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and the other driver was at fault, you have a right to compensation (damages, lost wages, medical expenses, etc.). If you have uninsured motorist insurance, this added layer of coverage can be instrumental in helping you recover the compensation you deserve. Unfortunately, if you do not have coverage, you could be in a tight spot.

For more information, contact the Louisiana personal injury lawyers at Mansfield, Melancon, Cranmer & Dick LLC. We have a proven track record of success handling many types of Louisiana personal injury cases, including, but not limited to, car accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability accidents, and cases involving nursing care facility abuse/neglect. Contact us by calling one of our offices: New Orleans at (504) 500-1108, Baton Rouge at (225) 612-0800, or Lafayette at (337) 409-0003. You can also request a free consultation by using our “Contact Us” page.