Let’s assume the same facts we discussed in Part II regarding underinsurance coverage. You are forty years old, married, have two kids and a decent job. You have a fair amount of financial responsibilities that go with your status as husband and father. You have a house, your kids to take care of, retirement in the future, your kids’ educations down the road; there’s a lot you need to take care of. So you’re driving home from work one day and a young guy loses control of his car, crosses into your lane, hits your car and you do not survive. In this scenario, the other driver has no insurance at all. What can your family expect financially for support after you’re gone?
From the other driver, probably nothing. If he has no insurance, he probably also has no assets. You can sue him and you’ll probably win, but you will most likely never collect a dime from him. So how do you protect yourself? You do so through uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage provides just what it sounds like it provides, coverage for injuries you sustain when another driver causes you harm but has no insurance.
This is an optional coverage, under Pennsylvania law you do not have to buy it. If you do not buy it though, and you are injured or killed due to the negligence of a driver who does not have insurance, you will not have any way to provide for your family. If you do buy uninsured motorist coverage and this scenario occurs, you then make a claim against your own insurance company for the benefits you bought for yourself. By purchasing uninsured motorist coverage, you provide a way to protect yourself and your family in the unfortunate event of such an accident. Uninsured motorist coverage can be stacked just as underinsurance coverage can be (choosing coverage that multiplies the maximum amount of uninsured motorist coverage available times the number of vehicles covered under your policy). This is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to maximize your coverage to protect yourself and your family.
Remember, you buy insurance to protect yourself. Coverages such as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are ways for you to take a positive step to protect your family.
Serious injuries or wrongful death may occur from automobile accidents, truck accidents, boating accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, or other incidents of personal injury. Often, these “accidents” could have been avoided if reasonable preventative measures had been taken. At Palmieri & Matvey, we are a full-service personal injury law firm based in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. We represent victims and their families who are fighting for justice and fair compensation for their injuries from the initial claims with the insurance companies to filing a lawsuit and through trial. For a free consultation, Contact us today. We can discuss what your case could be worth, what the insurance company involved owes you, and whether you do in fact need an attorney to represent you.
Visit my website at http://www.matveylaw.com/
From offices in Center Township, Aliquippa, law offices of Palmieri & Matvey, P.C. serves the personal injury and estate administration needs of Western and Southwestern Pennsylvania including the communities of Aliquippa, Center Twp, Beaver, Ambridge, Baden, Beaver Falls, Bridgewater, Chippewa Twp, Conway, Coraopolis, Cranberry Twp, Economy, Ellwood City, Freedom, Harmony, Hopewell, Leetsdale, Midland, Monaca, Moon Twp, New Brighton, New Castle, Patterson Twp, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Shippingport and Vanport; as well as Beaver County, Allegheny County, Washington County, Butler County and Lawrence County and other areas of Western PA.
