Buying car insurance in Alaska can be a daunting task, you have several different choices for kinds of coverage, including uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. As the name suggests, this coverage applies if you are hit by someone who does not carry their own insurance.
Is it really necessary to have this uninsured motorist insurance?
Some people would argue it is not necessary to include this coverage. After all, car insurance is not an option, but a mandatory requirement in Alaska. The law states that all drivers must have at least liability insurance. Therefore, it would stand to reason that your odds of being hit by an uninsured driver are low.
The reality is that many people break this law, neglecting to carry insurance.
Reports show that 26.7 percent of drivers in Florida are uninsured, giving it the highest rate in the nation. Behind that are Mississippi at 23.7 percent, New Mexico at 20.8 percent and Michigan at 20.3 percent.
Though Alaska doesn’t make the top ten, these stats show that uninsured drivers are perhaps more common than you may think. Studies also found that a poor economy contributes to higher percentages of uninsured drivers. People will try to risk it when they are not making as much money as they once were, cutting out insurance when they have few other options. Since the U.S. economy has been down since 2008, this has been a real issue.
Whether or not you have uninsured motorist coverage, you need to know the legal options you have after a collision caused by an uninsured driver.
For further information or to schedule a consultation please contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. at 866.452.3741 or visit www.merdes.com. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do.
Source: Insurance.com, “Uninsured motorist: Why you need it“
