Minimum liability insurance coverage is required in Indiana as well as every other state, but on average, 1 in 5 motorists are uninsured or underinsured. Approximately 1 out of 5 drivers lack adequate Indiana car insurance coverage. If you’ve been injured in an accident and have trouble with your insurance provider or the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, contact an Indiana car accident attorney to schedule a no-cost consultation and discuss your options.
While you can’t control what decisions others make about their insurance or how they behave on the road, you can take steps to ensure you are protected against irresponsible motorists.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage in Indiana
Indiana law mandates that all motorists have at least $25,000 of liability insurance coverage for the bodily injury of a single person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 coverage for destruction of property per accident. Unfortunately, not everyone has the required coverage. Being in an accident with one of these drivers could cost you thousands of dollars.
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when you are in an accident with a driver who is either uninsured.
If a driver is uninsured and causes injuries or property damage, your UM coverage will pay for medical expenses of you and your passengers up to the limits of your policy. In some cases, property damage can also be covered by UM.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage in Indiana
Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver’s policy is surpassed by the value of the damage caused. Serious accidents can easily exceed $25,000, so UIM covers the difference after the other driver’s policy has maxed out its liability payment for the accident up the limits of your policy.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are separate policies but are usually sold together.
Medical Payments Coverage in Indiana
Even if the other driver’s insurance company accepts liability for an accident and the driver is adequately covered, that doesn’t mean the insurance provider will pay your medical bills in a timely manner. They may even drag their feet about covering your medical expenses. Medical payment coverage pays for medical bills and funeral costs for policyholders and any passengers in the insured vehicle. This coverage can be used to pay medical expenses as they are incurred.
Medical payments coverage also can be used to pay deductibles or co-payments required by health insurance providers, as well as services your health plan doesn’t cover. Additionally, if you receive a settlement or jury award, you do not have to reimburse your insurance company for medical payments coverage.
Guaranteed Auto Protection Plans (GAP) in Indiana
It was once rare for the amount of money that was owed on a car to exceed the value of it, but the days of putting down 30% of a car’s cost up-front when making a new vehicle purchase have been replaced by little to no up-front payments and long-term financing options.
In the event an accident totals a vehicle, if more money is owed than the car is worth, the owner can be in a very tight position. GAP protection only applies if a car is totaled or stolen, but in those cases it will pay the difference between what the auto insurance company provides and what you owe.
These policies are relatively low-cost and provide not only invaluable peace of mind, but also a practical solution when you are in an accident with an inadequately insured driver. If you experience complications with an Indiana car insurance claim, you should speak with an Indiana car accident attorney who can answer your questions after your accident.