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You never know what the other driver is thinking or doing when an accident occurs

No one wants to think that they will be involved in a car or motorcycle accident, but they are the #1 cause of accidental disability and death with more than 6 million accidents and 40,000 deaths every year. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by irresponsible drivers who cause an accident and then leave the scene. Some leave the scene because they are scared or do not have insurance; others leave because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

There have been a few hit and run accidents happening right here in Des Moines lately. In a little over two months there have been 5 people who have fled the scene of deadly accidents right here in the metro, according to a local news source. They are tragic and preventable accidents thought to be caused by drunk driving and pure negligence on the driver’s part. Our thoughts and condolences go out to all the victims’ families involved. These kind of accidents really make you think, “This could happen to me or my family”, it usually occurs when you least expect it too. Protecting your family in every way possible should be important to you, you never know what other drivers are doing or thinking when something like this happens.

What most Iowans don’t know is that there is only one type of insurance coverage that can protect you if you or your family are hit by a hit and run driver. The insurance companies probably have not told you, but I will even though I do not sell insurance. Uninsured motorist insurance coverage is the only car and motorcycle insurance that protects you and your family if you are hit by a hit and run driver. Uninsured motorist coverage provides coverage to pay for medical bills, lost wages along with injury and permanent disability caused by a hit and run accident.

However, there is a cap also known as a policy limit which will limit the amount of damages that you can recover. The state minimum for insurance coverage is only $20,000/$40,000. Whenever car or motorcycle insurance coverage says $20,000/$40,000 or $300,000/$500,000, this is the amount of coverage that is available “per person” injured and what the total coverage is available to all persons injured in a single crash. So, if you only have $20,000/$40,000 coverage, each injured person would only be covered up to $20,000 for all of their injuries sustained in a hit a run accident. The total coverage available for the hit and run accident would only be $40,000. If four people are hurt in the accident caused by a hit and run drive, then the most any one person would receive is $20,000, but all five people would have to share the total amount of insurance coverage available which would be $40,000.

Do you know how much uninsured motorist coverage you have to protect you and your family from a hit and run driver? My experience is that most Iowans do not know without looking. If you have enough UM- uninsured motorist coverage and a driver leaves the scene of an accident, then your insurance company will pay for your damages up to the limits of insurance coverage you purchased. A recent survey that we conducted of the leading insurance companies revealed that for most Iowa drivers the difference between $20,000 and $500,000 in coverage ranges from a low $.15 per day to a high of $.72 per day. Also, keep in mind that when you buy more coverage, you are also buying more UIM-underinsured motorist coverage so if you are hit by a driver without enough insurance (from our experience about 80% of Iowa drivers do not have enough insurance) or if you are at fault for an accident (this is covered under your liability coverage) then you will have the additional coverage available. Would you like to know which insurance company we found has the lowest car insurance rates?

We offer a book at no cost called “How to Buy Car and Motorcycle Insurance to Protect You and Your Family”. You can obtain this book by going to http://www.IowaInsuranceBook.com or by calling 1-800-707-2552 and enter ext. 814 (24 Hour Recorded Message). We offer books at no cost because we believe that all Iowans should have the information and knowledge to make good decisions when it comes to purchasing car insurance. Also, we have seen too many clients who did not know how a few dollars a year could provide them with additional protection and unfortunately they did not buy enough insurance costing them thousands of dollars.