Each year, the month of April is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and promoting safer driving habits. In 2024, distracted driving resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths and over 400,000 injuries in the United States.
The road holds hidden dangers when driving in Connecticut. Speeding, tailgating, aggressive merging, and confrontational and distracted drivers are perennial problems that affect even the most careful drivers. To worsen matters, one in seven drivers has no insurance, and as many as one in three are woefully underinsured, making uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage essential.
This rising number of uninsured motorists increases everyone’s auto insurance cost. When accidents involve uninsured drivers, the victim’s insurance company pays the bills — and those costs get passed on to responsible drivers in the form of higher premiums. Protecting yourself, starts with understanding and maximizing your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
What Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
UM/UIM coverage protects YOU if you’re in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance — or not enough coverage. Connecticut requires a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in UM/UIM coverage, but medical expenses, legal fees, and vehicle repairs often exceed those limits.
Without adequate coverage, YOU may be left responsible for bills from an accident you didn’t cause, including emergency treatment, lost wages, or the cost of replacing your vehicle.
Types of UM/UIM Coverage
UM/UIM policies are typically made up of the following components:
- Uninsured motorist (UM): Protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all
- Underinsured motorist (UIM): Helps cover the gap when the other driver’s policy limits are too low
- Bodily injury coverage: Covers medical bills, rehabilitation, and income loss for you and your passengers
- Property damage coverage: Covers repair or replacement costs for your vehicle
The Value of Enhanced Coverage Options
For families or individuals who often have multiple passengers in the car, standard limits may not be enough. Double UM/UIM coverage is a cost-effective way to double your policy’s limits per accident, offering significantly broader protection to you and yours, in serious incidents.
Adding “conversion coverage” enhances that protection further, by allowing you to access your full UM/UIM limit in addition to the at-fault driver’s liability limits. This coverage is especially important for households with children, frequent carpoolers, or anyone regularly transporting four or more people.
How Uninsured Drivers Affect Everyone
When drivers go uninsured, the effects ripple outward. Insurance companies must cover losses caused by uninsured motorists, which increases the cost of doing business — and those costs are passed along to insured drivers. Over time, this leads to higher premiums and tighter underwriting standards.
Even UM/UIM claims themselves can influence rates. A higher frequency of claims under these coverages puts additional pressure on insurers and may result in broader pricing adjustments, even for drivers with clean records.
How To Strengthen Your Coverage
Protecting yourself against uninsured drivers starts with making sure you have the right coverage to protect you and your loved ones.
Review and Update Your Limits
Talk with your insurance agent to ensure your coverage limits reflect today’s medical and vehicle repair costs. Many drivers are surprised to learn how affordable it is to increase their protection. Because UM/UIM limits are usually tied to your auto liability limits, increasing your liability from 100/300 to 250/500 automatically raises your UM/UIM protection as well, giving you more robust coverage. This increase becomes even more valuable when paired with options like double UM/UIM and conversion coverage.
Consider an Umbrella Policy
An umbrella policy provides extra liability protection beyond your auto limits. It may also include UM/UIM coverage — just be sure to verify that this protection is included.
Bundle and Save
Bundling your auto coverage with homeowners or renters insurance often qualifies you for discounts, helping offset the cost of increased limits.
Focus on Prevention
Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a great time to discuss safe driving habits, especially if you have young drivers in the house. Being a safe and aware driver is the best ways to avoid accidents with uninsured drivers. Staying alert, avoiding phone use, and driving defensively can make a major difference.
Take Action To Protect Yourself Today
The increase in uninsured drivers shows no signs of slowing down and distracted driving continues to put drivers needlessly at risk. Protecting yourself with the right combination of UM/UIM coverage — including double UM and conversion coverage — ensures you won’t face financial hardship because of someone else’s lack of responsibility.
Brooks, Todd & McNeil can help you identify gaps, optimize your protection, and recommend additional options to fit your lifestyle and budget. Contact us at (800) 448-4567 or visit brookstoddmcneil.com to schedule a policy review and make sure you’re fully covered, no matter who’s on the road.
About Brooks, Todd & McNeil
Since 1839, the independent agents at Brooks, Todd & McNeil have been pleased to offer our community the best and most affordable policies from a variety of providers. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today at (800) 448-4567.