What is ‘U’ Coverage in a Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Policy?
What Does ‘U’ Coverage Mean in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania auto insurance, “U” coverage refers to Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage — a critical protection that pays for your injuries and losses when you’re hit by a driver who has no liability insurance at all. Despite Pennsylvania’s legal requirement that all drivers carry auto insurance, a meaningful percentage of motorists on Erie-area roads are uninsured. Without UM coverage, an accident with one of these drivers can leave you with no way to recover your medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.
Pennsylvania law requires insurers to offer UM coverage to every policyholder. You must reject it in writing if you don’t want it. Given how little it typically costs to add and how significant the protection can be, most experienced Pennsylvania injury attorneys strongly recommend that drivers carry UM coverage.
What Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pay For?
If you’re injured by an uninsured driver, your UM coverage can compensate you for:
- Medical treatment costs, including emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up visits
- Lost wages while you’re unable to work due to your injuries
- Pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages if a family member is killed in the accident
Your UM coverage limit — for example, $50,000 or $100,000 per accident — sets the maximum amount available. Higher limits offer more protection and often cost only a modest additional premium.
Hit-and-Run Accidents and UM Coverage
Pennsylvania’s UM coverage also applies in hit-and-run situations, where the at-fault driver flees the scene and cannot be identified. If you’re struck by a vehicle that leaves without stopping, your UM coverage may be the only source of compensation for your injuries. This makes UM coverage especially important for pedestrians, cyclists, and anyone who regularly drives on busy Erie-area streets and highways like I-90, Route 5, or Peach Street.
Stacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Pennsylvania drivers who own multiple vehicles or carry multiple policies may be entitled to “stack” their UM coverage limits, multiplying the available protection. If you haven’t reviewed your policy recently, it’s worth confirming whether you have stacked or unstacked coverage and what your current limits are.
The Erie personal injury attorneys at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. help injured Pennsylvanians understand and maximize their insurance coverage. If you’ve been hurt by an uninsured driver, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your options.
