You may carry the insurance Connecticut requires, but what happens if another driver causes an accident and has no insurance? What if that driver has insurance, but their limits aren’t sufficient to address your qualifying injuries?
That’s where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage becomes important. When comparing auto insurance in CT, drivers should understand this protection before selecting their limits. D.M. Johnson Insurance Agency in Newington can help drivers review available coverage and understand how different options work.
Connecticut Requires UM/UIM Coverage
Connecticut requires drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, commonly abbreviated as UM/UIM.
The minimum is:
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident
This coverage is designed to protect against qualifying bodily injuries caused by another driver who doesn’t have sufficient insurance.
It can protect you, qualifying relatives who live with you, or passengers in your vehicle, depending on the circumstances and policy terms.
Importantly, the required UM/UIM is bodily injury coverage. It shouldn’t be confused with collision coverage for physical damage to your own vehicle.
When Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Matter?
Consider an accident caused by a driver who has no auto liability insurance.
Normally, an injured person may seek compensation from the responsible driver’s liability insurance. When that insurance doesn’t exist, uninsured motorist coverage can provide another source of protection for qualifying bodily injury damages.
Connecticut’s coverage also addresses certain hit-and-run accidents, where the responsible motorist cannot be identified or lacks available insurance.
This is why UM protection serves a different purpose from the liability coverage you carry for accidents you cause.
What Does Underinsured Mean?
An underinsured driver has liability insurance, but their available insurance isn’t sufficient in relation to a qualifying bodily injury claim.
Suppose you’re injured by an at-fault driver who carries relatively low bodily injury liability limits. If your qualifying damages exceed the insurance available from that driver, your own underinsured motorist coverage may become relevant.
How much is available depends on the coverage selected, payments received, circumstances of the accident, and policy provisions.
Drivers considering auto insurance in CT should therefore look beyond whether UM/UIM appears on the policy and review the actual limits they’ve selected.
Connecticut Also Has UIM Conversion Coverage
Connecticut drivers may encounter another option called underinsured motorist conversion coverage, or UIMC.
This isn’t the same as standard underinsured motorist coverage.
With standard UIM coverage, available protection is generally reduced by certain payments received from other sources, including the at-fault driver’s liability insurance.
Connecticut’s optional UIM conversion coverage works differently. According to the Connecticut Insurance Department, UIMC isn’t reduced by payments from other sources. It can therefore provide additional protection for qualifying damages that remain unpaid.
Because the difference can be difficult to understand from policy terminology alone, ask an insurance professional to explain both options before deciding.
Should You Choose More Than the Minimum?
Connecticut establishes the minimum UM/UIM limits drivers must carry, but drivers can consider higher limits.
When reviewing your options, ask:
- What are my current UM/UIM limits?
- Who qualifies for protection under my policy?
- How does standard UIM coverage work after another insurer pays?
- Is UIM conversion coverage available?
- How would increasing my limits affect my premium?
These questions provide a more useful comparison than selecting coverage based only on the lowest available price.
Understand Your Protection Before an Accident
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be easy to overlook because it protects against a problem created by someone else’s insurance situation.
D.M. Johnson Insurance Agency helps Connecticut drivers understand policy limits and compare available options based on their individual circumstances.
If you’re reviewing auto insurance in CT, contact the Newington office at 860-436-5339 for a free quote and consultation about your auto insurance options.
