Insurance terminology can be a little much to consume all at once, so we’re breaking it down bit by bit to make it easier for you to digest. This time we’ll take a look at Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM) Coverage.

If you’ve already read about our Liability Coverage you’ll know that it is used to cover medical costs and property damage for everybody but you. Since you probably want to make sure your medical bills are paid for if you get into an accident that is not your fault you’ll want to look into UM coverage.

How Does UM Coverage Work?

Let’s use an example to help you understand exactly what we’re talking about. Let’s say somebody is driving a car and accidentally hits you and sends you flying – their liability insurance should take care of you. However, if they only have minimal liability coverage (let’s say $25,000) to cover your medical bills and you require surgery and physical therapy, this is probably not going to cover it. This is where UM coverage comes to the rescue.

The same thing applies to an uninsured driver. If they’ve got no coverage and you don’t have uninsured motorist coverage, you’re responsible for the hospital bills. You can and should sue the guilty (uninsured) party, but that takes time and you’ve bills to pay.

Property damage is also part of UM coverage. Generally speaking, the deductible is fairly small in this case ($250 in most cases) and will cover any damage to your motorcycle.