Understanding Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Charleston, SC
If you get into a crash involving an uninsured driver in Charleston, SC, you might be worried about how you’ll cover your medical bills and other expenses stemming from the crash. If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you’re in luck because you won’t have to worry about covering the bills out of pocket.
These policies can cover eligible expenses you, your passengers, or your family members incurred in an accident in which the at-fault driver flees the accident scene (hit-and-run), is uninsured, or doesn’t have adequate coverage to cover your damages. Also, if you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, you may be able to stack both policies to pay for your medical expenses.
On the other hand, your auto insurance provider will not readily hand you a check when you file a claim. They may even reduce your payout or deny your claim. Likewise, stacking insurance policies comes with strict requirements. Fortunately, a seasoned uninsured motorist accident lawyer in Charleston, SC, can help you with your insurance claim. They can also determine if you can stack your UM and UIM policies to receive maximum compensation for your claim.
Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Charleston, SC?
First, you should know that you are legally required to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage in South Carolina, but underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is optional. Both policies should cover the following losses when you get into a car accident involving an uninsured driver:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Emotional distress
- Damage to your car, personal items, and equipment
You must carry $25,000 per individual or $50,000 UM liability coverage for everyone involved in the crash and $25,000 for property damage. But what if your losses exceed your coverage limits? This is where stacking insurance policies can be helpful.
What is Stacking?
Stacking your UM and UIM coverages combines their coverage limits for multiple policies or vehicles. You can use both policies to pay for injuries resulting from the crash. Stacking is an excellent way to safeguard your savings should an accident occur because it raises the maximum payout you should receive from your insurance provider. However, as mentioned earlier, stringent requirements for stacking insurance policies may differ from one insurer to another.
For instance, you can only stack coverage for bodily injury, not property damage. Likewise, you must be the policyholder or a resident relative of the policyholder, and the accident must involve your insured vehicle. An experienced Charleston, SC, uninsured motorist attorney can help you understand the laws applicable to your case and determine whether you can stack your insurance policies.
Speak To Our Dependable Charleston, SC, Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney Now
For assistance securing maximum compensation after a hit-and-run accident or crash involving an uninsured driver, you can count on our Charleston, SC, uninsured motorist accident lawyer at the John Price Law Firm. To schedule your complimentary consultation with our uninsured motorist attorney, contact us online or call 843-552-6011.