Drivers in Florida, Georgia, and New York carry liability insurance — coverage that pays the other person if you cause a crash. But the most important coverage on a policy is often the one paying you when someone else causes a crash and either has no insurance or not enough of it.
What Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Pays
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance — or in many cases, when they hit and run.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses. If your damages are $200,000 and the other driver carries only minimum limits, UIM is what makes up the gap.
UM and UIM Coverage Rules Differ by State
Florida allows drivers to reject or reduce UM/UIM coverage in writing — and many people accidentally do, often years ago, without realizing it. Georgia requires UM/UIM coverage unless it is rejected in writing, but the default limits are often far below what a serious injury actually costs. In New York, basic UM coverage is mandatory, but the supplemental (SUM) coverage that actually protects you in a serious crash is optional and often left at the minimum. If your serious-injury claim ends up below the policy limits because you only carry minimum UM or SUM coverage, that decision lives with you forever.
Making a Claim Against Your Own Insurer
The good news: making a UM/UIM claim is not 'suing' your own carrier in the typical sense. The claim is structured for it, and your premiums shouldn't go up for making it.
The bad news: insurers fight UM and UIM claims as hard as any other — sometimes harder, because they're paying you directly. A lawyer is often more important on a UM/UIM claim than on a third-party claim.
