North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
While nobody wants to be involved in a vehicle accident, the reality is that crashes occur regularly throughout Illinois. These incidents can leave victims with significant property and injury damages. Unfortunately, many drivers throughout Illinois are uninsured or underinsured. Here, our Chicago car accident attorneys want to discuss the implication this has on victims and whether or not you are required to or should carry Illinois uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself in the event a crash occurs.
What Type Of Auto Insurance Is Required In Illinois?
Every state is responsible for setting the minimum amount of auto insurance drivers are required to have to remain legal on the roadway. Drivers in Illinois must ensure that their insurance policy meets the minimum requirements, which includes the following:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
- Property damage liability coverage: $15,000
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident
When we look at the coverage required here, we can see a few important aspects that stand out. First, Illinois is one of the few states that does require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage. However, drivers are only required to have uninsured bodily injury coverage. Drivers in Illinois do not have to have uninsured motorist property damage coverage. Additionally, drivers in Illinois are not required to carry underinsured motorist coverage.
The Importance Of Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Chicago
The good news is that Illinois does require uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. This is important for any person injured in a vehicle accident caused by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. This coverage will pay for $20,000 worth of medical expenses per person and $40,000 worth of medical expenses per accident.
It is also highly recommended that drivers consider purchasing uninsured motorist property damage coverage and underinsured motorist coverage (both property damage and bodily injury).
Uninsured motorist property damage insurance will help ensure that victims of accidents are able to get their vehicles repaired or replaced in the event they are struck by an uninsured driver. Underinsured motorist coverage is going to help victims of accidents when the insurance policy limits of the at-fault party are not high enough to cover all of the expenses caused by the collision.
Both uninsured motorist property damage coverage and underinsured motorist coverage are relatively inexpensive and incredibly beneficial in the event a collision occurs.
Will You Need An Attorney For Your Case?
If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in a crash caused by another driver, you may need to speak to an attorney about your case. These collisions can become incredibly complicated, particularly when the other party is uninsured or does not have adequate insurance policy limits to cover the property damage or injury expenses. A Chicago uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage attorney can use their resources and legal expertise to obtain all evidence needed to prove liability, work with trusted economic and medical professionals, and negotiate with all parties to ensure that their client receives maximum compensation.