Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
When you get behind the wheel of a car, you’re taking a risk—no matter how safe of a driver you are. Accidents can happen in an instant, and not every driver on the road is responsible. Some don’t even carry insurance. I learned this lesson the hard way in 2024 when I got into an accident that changed the way I look at auto insurance forever.
If you’re someone who thinks car insurance is just another bill you pay because the law requires it, or you assume you’ll never need to use it, let me tell you—think again. Especially when it comes to uninsured motorist coverage. I used to overlook that part of my policy until I found myself in a situation where it was the only thing standing between me and financial disaster.
Let me explain why car insurance is not just important—it’s essential. And why uninsured motorist coverage might be the most important part of your entire policy.
The Day Everything Changed: My 2024 Car Accident
It was a regular day. I was driving around my neighborhood, following all traffic rules, and paying attention to the road. I come to a complete stop because of the red light, but suddenly the light turned green with an arrow providing me a protected left turn. As I was turning left I noticed another driver from the opposite direction turning right. I figured they were going to stop, but it didn’t happen and suddenly they hit my car on the passenger rear. No airbags were deployed. My car was somewhat damaged but fortunately, I wasn’t seriously injured.
As I stood in the parking lot of a shopping center, trying to make sense of what just happened, the other driver was trying to put all the blame on me. The other driver said that I ran a red light and caused the accident. But what I soon found out made the situation even worse: the other driver didn’t have car insurance. To make matters worse, their driver’s license was expired.
I thought I was doomed.
No Insurance, No Accountability?
In a perfect world, when someone causes an accident, their insurance pays for the damages and everyone moves on. But in my case, the person who hit me had no coverage. I was left wondering who would pay for my car repairs, my medical bills, and the lost time from work.
At first, panic set in. I had heard horror stories of people stuck in years of legal battles trying to get money out of uninsured drivers. And even then, it’s often a dead end—if someone doesn’t have insurance, they probably don’t have the money to pay out of pocket either.
There wasn’t much I could do except report it to my car insurance. I provided all the information like the date, time, street, information of the other driver, who was at fault, etc. I thought this was going to cost me a ton of money because the other driver was insured. But then, I heard the best news ever, I had uninsured motorist coverage this whole time. Honestly, I had forgotten I even had it.
That one choice—to add uninsured motorist coverage to my policy—saved me.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is a type of auto insurance that protects you if you’re in an accident with someone who doesn’t have car insurance. In many places, it’s optional, but it absolutely shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought.
Here’s what UM typically covers:
- Medical bills for you and your passengers
- Lost wages if you’re unable to work due to injury
- Pain and suffering
- Vehicle repairs or replacement (depending on your policy and whether you have uninsured motorist property damage, or UMPD)
There’s also a related type of coverage called underinsured motorist coverage, which helps when the other driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses.
Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage
1. You Can’t Count on Others to Be Responsible
Despite laws in many states requiring drivers to carry insurance, millions of people still drive without it. According to a 2023 study from the Insurance Research Council, approximately 1 in 8 drivers in the U.S. are uninsured. In some states, that number is much higher.
That means every time you get on the road, there’s a real chance you could be in an accident with someone who has no way to pay for the damage they cause.
2. Legal Action Isn’t Always Worth It
You might think, “I’ll just sue them.” But suing someone who’s broke or has no assets is like trying to squeeze water from a rock. Even if you win in court, collecting that money is another story. Legal fees, time, stress—it adds up. And it’s not guaranteed.
UM coverage gives you immediate help. No waiting for court decisions, no collection agencies, no dead-end lawsuits. Just protection.
3. Peace of Mind
When my accident happened, the last thing I needed was financial stress on top of emotional and physical stress. UM coverage allowed me to focus on healing and fixing my car—not worrying about how I was going to pay for it.
That peace of mind is worth every penny.
4. It’s Usually Inexpensive
One of the biggest misconceptions is that adding uninsured motorist coverage will drastically raise your insurance premium. The truth? It’s usually very affordable, especially considering the protection it offers.
In my case, I had added it to my policy for only a few extra dollars a month. That small cost turned into thousands of dollars in coverage when I needed it most.
What Happens Without It?
Let’s say I didn’t have uninsured motorist coverage in 2024. Here’s what I would have been left with:
- Thousands in repair costs for my car
- Medical bills for hospital visits, tests, and follow-up appointments
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Out-of-pocket expenses like rental cars, towing, etc.
Unless I wanted to pay everything myself or pursue a costly and time-consuming lawsuit, I would have been out of luck. That’s a scary position to be in—and it’s avoidable.
Other Types of Coverage to Consider
While we’re talking about insurance, here are a few other types of coverage you should understand and consider:
1. Liability Insurance
This is the basic coverage required by law in most states. It pays for damage you cause to others, but it doesn’t protect you or your vehicle.
2. Collision Coverage
Pays for damage to your own car if you collide with another vehicle or object.
3. Comprehensive Coverage
Covers non-collision damage, like theft, vandalism, or weather-related damage.
4. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault.
Each of these plays a different role, but uninsured motorist coverage fills a unique gap—it steps in when someone else should be paying but can’t.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’ll look into that coverage later,” don’t wait. Do it today. You might think accidents only happen to other people, but trust me—I thought that too.
In 2024, my entire outlook changed in an instant. I wasn’t speeding. I wasn’t distracted. I did everything right. And still, I got hit by someone who shouldn’t have been driving in the first place. An expired license and no insurance. Yet, I came out of it okay—because I had uninsured motorist coverage.
Don’t leave your future up to chance or hope that everyone else on the road is playing by the rules. Protect yourself. Give yourself that safety net.
When disaster strikes—and it often strikes without warning—you’ll be incredibly glad you did.
Action Steps
- Review your current auto insurance policy today. Look for “Uninsured Motorist” or “UM” coverage.
- Call your insurance provider and ask if you’re fully protected.
- Consider increasing your coverage limits to better match potential losses.
- Educate others. Share your experience or this article. Many people simply don’t know how vulnerable they are.
In life, you can’t control everything. But you can prepare. And sometimes, a little preparation can make all the difference in the world.
I hope my story helps someone avoid the fear and uncertainty I felt that day. If just one person adds UM coverage because of this post, then telling my story was worth it.
Stay safe out there.
