What Is the Underinsured Motorist Coverage Lim💟its Tr📖igger?
The underinsured motorist coverage limits trigger is one of the two triggers that can be specified by an insured party to protect against losses caused by an acci♌dent with a driver who has insufficient insurance.
The underinsured motorist coverage limits trigger ensures coverage in the event of an accident caused by a driver with inadequate insurance, and when the underinsured driver's liability limit is lower than that of the insured person or policyholder. The other trigger for underinsured motorist coverage is known as the damages or coverage trigger.
Key Takeaways
- The underinsured motorist coverage limits trigger ensures insurance coverage for damages caused by an at-fault motorist without adequate auto insurance to fully cover the other injured party's damages.
- This kind of coverage is a relatively inexpensive add-on to a regular auto insurance policy and can prove to be beneficial in the case of an accident.
- Underinsured motorist endorsements are mandatory in many states and typically last between six and 12 months.
Understanꦓding the Underinsured Motorist Coverage Limits Trigger
Drivers purchase 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:auto insurance for several reasons, such as the risk of their car becoming damaged in an accident, the risk of damaging another person’s car, or the risk of killing or injuring another person. But one risk that is sometimes neglected by drivers is the possibility that they might be injured, or have their car damaged, by another driver who𓄧 has failed to take out adequate auto insurance.
In that instance, the policyholder might have a legitimate claim against the at-fault driver but be unable to collect damages. After all, if the at-fault driver does not have the necessary assets or insurance, they might simply declare 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:bankruptcy, leaving little or 🐠nothing for the victim to collect.
To protect against this risk, drivers can purchase 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:underinsured motorist coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. This supplemental insurance covers property damages, bodily injury to the policyholder, as well as injuries to insured family members or passengers. If a claim needs to be filed, the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:endorsement can cover the difference between the coverage paid by the at-fault driver’s insurance and the full amoun꧑t owing.
Under- vs. Un-insured Motorist Coverage
Note that underinsured motorist coverage is not the same as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which wꦅould cover a situation in which the at-fault driver did not have any insurance. However, these two types of coverage are often bundled together. Either ꦅseparately or together, they are usually a relatively inexpensive add-on to an auto insurance policy but provide beneficial coverage.
In 2015, approximately one out of eight drivers were under-insured, according to the Insurance Research Council, which tracks data on drivers. In many states being uninsured is illegal. In fact, every state, with the lone exception of New Hampshire, makes it illegal to not carry some form of auto insurance. Underinsured coverage is better than no coverag♈e at all.
Example of Undeౠrinsured Mꦆotorist Coverage Limits Trigger
Assume an insured person has underinsured motorist coverage up to $500,000 with a limits trigger. In the event of an accident with an at-fault driver who only has $100,000 of insurance coverage, an insurance claim of $150,000 would result in the policy holder's underinsured motorist coverage kicking in because of the limits trigger.