What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in a Pennsylvania Car Insurance Policy?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Pennsylvania
Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is a component of your Pennsylvania auto insurance policy that pays for your injuries and damages when you are hit by a driver who carries no liability insurance. Although Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to maintain minimum auto insurance, a significant number of motorists on Erie-area roads remain uninsured — either because they’ve let their policy lapse, never obtained coverage, or are driving a vehicle that isn’t registered to them.
Without UM coverage, an accident with an uninsured driver can be financially catastrophic. There may be no insurance company to pay your medical bills, replace your lost income, or compensate you for your pain and suffering. UM coverage ensures that your own policy steps in to fill that gap.
What UM Coverage Pays For
Pennsylvania UM coverage can compensate you for the same categories of damages you would seek from an at-fault driver’s liability policy, including:
- Emergency medical care and ongoing treatment
- Surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent injuries, disfigurement, or disability
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Pennsylvania UM coverage also applies to hit-and-run accidents where the responsible driver cannot be identified. If you’re struck by a car that flees the scene, your UM policy is often the only available recovery source. This protection is especially valuable on high-traffic Erie corridors like Peach Street, West 26th Street, and I-90.
Purchasing UM Coverage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law requires insurers to offer UM coverage with every auto policy. Drivers who don’t want it must reject it in writing. UM coverage is typically inexpensive relative to the protection it provides, and higher limits are available at modest additional cost. Pennsylvania also permits stacking of UM limits across multiple vehicles or policies, which can substantially increase your available protection.
The attorneys at Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. have helped many Erie accident victims successfully pursue UM claims after being hurt by uninsured drivers. If you’ve been injured and the at-fault driver had no coverage, contact us for a free consultation.
