Yes. Talk to your insurance company representative right away about your policy coverage in a case such as this. He or she can explain that Virginia requires insurance companies to offer you one type of additional coverage that could protect you in case the injuries you sustain exceed the available insurance coverage of the driver at fault. Called MedPay, it can be obtained on your auto policy at a nominal cost, with the amount you contract for determining the amount of the additional premium. You and your insurance company can determine the amount you obtain. If you have more than one car insured under your policy, the coverage for each car insured can be combined to cover medical costs incurred. The additional benefit of MedPay is that it reimburses you whether you are at fault or not, and even if all or most of the costs are paid by other insurance, such as the other driver’s insurance or your personal health insurance. Additionally, you should seriously consider increasing the amounts of your UM/UIM insurance to an amount you feel comfortable with in case of a long term or debilitating injury. This protects you in the event that the other driver has no liability insurance at all, or his insurance is not enough to cover all of your damages. However, Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage will not apply if the amount of your UIM coverage is less than or equal to the amount of liability insurance of the other driver. For instance, if your UIM coverage is for $25,000.00, the other driver’s liability coverage is $25,000.00, and your medical bills are $30,000.00, UIM will not pay you the $5,000.00 difference. To protect yourself in that situation, your policy UIM coverage should be at least $30,000.00.

Frequently Asked Questions

 


Q: My neighbor was badly hurt in a wreck and the other driver’s insurance was not enough to cover all of his medical expenses. Is there anything I can do to keep this from happening to me?

A:

Yes. Talk to your insurance company representative right away about your policy coverage in a case such as this. He or she can explain that Virginia requires insurance companies to offer you one type of additional coverage that could protect you in case the injuries you sustain exceed the available insurance coverage of the driver at fault.

Called MedPay, it can be obtained on your auto policy at a nominal cost, with the amount you contract for determining the amount of the additional premium. You and your insurance company can determine the amount you obtain. If you have more than one car insured under your policy, the coverage for each car insured can be combined to cover medical costs incurred. The additional benefit of MedPay is that it reimburses you whether you are at fault or not, and even if all or most of the costs are paid by other insurance, such as the other driver’s insurance or your personal health insurance.

Additionally, you should seriously consider increasing the amounts of your UM/UIM insurance to an amount you feel comfortable with in case of a long term or debilitating injury. This protects you in the event that the other driver has no liability insurance at all, or his insurance is not enough to cover all of your damages.

However, Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage will not apply if the amount of your UIM coverage is less than or equal to the amount of liability insurance of the other driver. For instance, if your UIM coverage is for $25,000.00, the other driver’s liability coverage is $25,000.00, and your medical bills are $30,000.00, UIM will not pay you the $5,000.00 difference. To protect yourself in that situation, your policy UIM coverage should be at least $30,000.00.


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