When you are injured in an accident, one of the first things you need to determine is how much insurance coverage the at-fault driver possesses. Missouri law only mandates that individual drivers possess $25,000 per person and $50,000 per occurrence in liability insurance. Despite this mandate, some drivers allow their policies to lapse and may not have any coverage at the time of an accident.

When the at-fault party does not have insurance, he or she is referred to as an "uninsured" driver. When your damages exceed the applicable insurance coverage of the at-fault party, he or she is referred to as an "underinsured" driver.

Recent cases of tragic injuries handled by our office in motor vehicle accidents compel that you be advised to promptly check the language of your automobile insurance policies to assure that you maintain maximum liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist limits of coverage. You may think you have "complete coverage" when you really have only the minimum limits of coverage required by law.

The overwhelming majority of your auto liability coverage premium is made not on the limits of your coverage, but rather on the underwriting decision to insure you and your family household members in the first place. It is a decision dependent on age of drivers, prior driving history as to moving violations, and at-fault accidents. Be an educated consumer. You will discover that any added cost is minimal for maximum limits of medical pay coverage, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist protection and that prudent planning can cushion personal and financial catastrophe.

The majority of negligent injuries are committed by financially irresponsible persons. By and large, where these persons have liability insurance at all, it is with the minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per occurrence. Only with maximum medical payments, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist limits of coverage can financial recovery for you and your family household members reach its fullest potential.

Based upon these concerns, we recommend the following insurance coverage:

1. AUTOMOBILE
   1. Bodily Injury Coverage - No less than $100,000 - $300,000 and preferably $300,000 - $500,000.
   2. Property Damage Coverage - At least $50,000 and possibly higher.
   3. Medical Payments Coverage - At least $5,000.
   4. Uninsured Motorist Coverage - This protects you and your family in the event that you are struck by someone who has no insurance. Limits should be equal to your Bodily Injury Coverage. For Example: $100,000 - $300,000 or $300,000 - $500,000. This is very inexpensive coverage.
   5. Underinsured Motorist Coverage - This protects you and your family if you are struck by a driver of an automobile carrying low limits of coverage. For example, if a negligent driver is carrying the minimum insurance under safety responsibility required by Missouri and you have very serious injuries, his insurance pays first. Based upon the language in your policy, your own coverage then kicks in up to the limits of your underinsured motorist coverage. This is very important coverage to protect you and your family. Your limits should also be equal to your Bodily Injury Coverage. This is also a very inexpensive coverage.
   
   
2. HOMEOWNERS COVERAGE
   1. Bodily Injury Coverage - At least $100,000 - $300,000, preferably more.
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3. UMBRELLA POLICY
   1. $1,000,000 Insurance Limits - This type of policy covers you and your family over and above your other liability policies and is also a very inexpensive form of coverage.

Ryan R. Cox & Associates has the knowledge, experience and resources to handle any uninsured or underinsured motorist claim. If you or a family member has been injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist call Mr. Cox directly at (636) 946-6886 or contact us online for a free consultation.