Car accidents can be stressful and unfortunate events, and the last thing you want to worry about is whether the other driver has insurance or not. However, in Idaho, uninsured motorists are a real concern, with around 6.7% of drivers in the state being uninsured. To protect yourself, it’s essential to understand Idaho’s uninsured motorist laws.
What is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is an insurance policy that provides protection in case of an accident with an uninsured driver. UM, coverage will pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
In Idaho, UM coverage is not mandatory, but insurance companies are required to offer it to drivers. If you decide not to purchase UM coverage, you must sign a waiver stating that you declined it.
Idaho’s Uninsured Motorist Laws
Idaho’s uninsured motorist laws require that all insurance policies offered in the state include UM coverage. The minimum amount of UM coverage that insurance companies must offer is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Idaho’s UM laws also include underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). UIM coverage applies when the other driver has insurance, but their coverage limit is not sufficient to cover the damages. For example, if the other driver has a policy limit of $15,000, but your damages are $25,000, your UIM coverage will pay for the remaining $10,000.
It’s important to note that UM and UIM coverage does not cover property damage, such as damage to your car. To protect yourself from property damage caused by an uninsured driver, you will need to purchase collision coverage.
What to Do if You’re in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you should report the accident to the police and your insurance company immediately. Your insurance company will investigate the accident and determine if you’re eligible for UM coverage.
If the other driver is at fault, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them to recover damages. However, if the other driver is uninsured, they may not have the financial resources to pay for your damages. In this case, UM coverage can be a lifesaver, providing the necessary funds to cover your expenses and damages.
While having UM coverage is crucial in protecting yourself from uninsured drivers, there are additional steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver in Idaho. Here are some tips:
- Be Prepared: Before hitting the road, make sure you have a copy of your insurance policy, including your UM coverage. Keep this document in your car or on your phone so that you can access it quickly if needed.
- Avoid High-Risk Areas: Some areas have a higher rate of uninsured drivers than others. Avoiding these areas can reduce your risk of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver. You can check with your insurance company or the Idaho Department of Insurance to find out which areas are considered high-risk.
- Consider Higher Coverage Limits: While the minimum UM coverage required in Idaho is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, you may want to consider purchasing higher coverage limits. If you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver, the damages could easily exceed these minimum limits, leaving you responsible for paying the remaining costs.
- Practice Defensive Driving: Being a defensive driver means being aware of your surroundings, anticipating potential hazards, and being prepared to react quickly if necessary. Defensive driving can help you avoid accidents caused by uninsured drivers or minimize the damage if an accident does occur.
Getting into an accident with an uninsured driver can be a frustrating and expensive experience, but with the right insurance coverage and a few precautions, you can reduce your risk and protect yourself financially. Remember to purchase UM coverage, be prepared, avoid high-risk areas, consider higher coverage limits, and practice defensive driving. By following these tips, you’ll be better equipped to handle any situation that comes your way on the roads of Idaho.
Benefits of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage:
Protection against uninsured and underinsured motorists: UM and UIM coverage provide an additional layer of protection, ensuring you’re not left with the financial consequences of an accident caused by someone without insurance or with insufficient coverage.
Peace of mind: Knowing that you have UM and UIM coverage can give you peace of mind while driving on Idaho roads, knowing that you’re protected even if you encounter an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Coverage for medical expenses and lost wages: UM and UIM coverage can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and other related expenses that result from an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is a crucial aspect of auto insurance in Idaho. By understanding its significance and the state’s requirements, you can make a well-informed decision that protects you and your loved ones in the event of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Required in Idaho?
Navigating the complexities of auto insurance can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding the nuances of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If you reside in Idaho or plan to drive through the state, you may be wondering whether this type of coverage is required. Understanding the intricacies of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in Idaho is crucial to ensuring you are adequately protected in the event of an accident involving a driver who lacks sufficient insurance. This exploration will clarify whether this coverage is mandatory in Idaho and why it might be a wise choice to include it in your insurance policy.
Idaho’s Insurance Requirements
In Idaho, drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. As of the most recent update, the state mandates that drivers carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage coverage. These limits are designed to cover the damages that the at-fault driver is responsible for in the event of an accident. However, Idaho does not require drivers to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This means that while you must have liability insurance to legally drive in the state, you are not required by law to carry UM/UIM coverage.
Although it is not mandatory, many insurance professionals strongly recommend adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to your policy. The relatively low minimum liability insurance requirements in Idaho mean that if you are involved in a serious accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance may not be enough to cover all of your expenses. In such cases, having UM/UIM coverage can provide the additional protection you need.
Filing a Claim for UM and UIM Coverage
Filing a claim for UM and UIM coverage in Idaho follows a process similar to any other insurance claim. After an accident, it is crucial to gather as much information as possible, including the other driver’s insurance details, contact information, and any witness statements. If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, you will need to notify your insurance company and provide evidence to support your claim.
Your insurance company will then investigate the accident, determine the extent of your damages, and assess the coverage available under your UM and UIM policies. It is important to cooperate fully with your insurer, providing all necessary documentation and information promptly. In some cases, you may need to negotiate with your insurance company to ensure you receive fair compensation. This is where having a knowledgeable attorney from Hepworth Holzer, LLP can be invaluable, as they can advocate on your behalf and help navigate the complexities of the claims process.
Verdicts & Settlements
How Long Do You Have to File an Uninsured Motorist Claim in Idaho?
When you’re involved in a car accident, it’s already a stressful experience. But what happens if the person responsible for the accident doesn’t have insurance? In Idaho, there are laws in place to help protect drivers from the damages caused by uninsured motorists. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to know how long you have to file an uninsured motorist claim and what steps to take to protect your rights. Understanding the rules and deadlines surrounding uninsured motorist claims can help ensure that you are able to recover compensation for your injuries, damages, and any other losses. At, Hepworth Holzer, LLP , we are here to guide you through the legal process and help you navigate the complexities of your case.
Uninsured motorist coverage is something that many Idaho drivers have through their insurance policies. This coverage is designed to help people when they are in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the costs of the damages. It is a safety net that ensures you are not left with overwhelming bills that aren’t your fault. However, even though you have this coverage, it’s crucial to act within the proper time frame to avoid missing out on your right to compensation.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations for Uninsured Motorist Claims in Idaho
A statute of limitations refers to the deadline you have to file a claim or lawsuit after an accident occurs. In Idaho, the statute of limitations for filing an uninsured motorist claim is somewhat unclear. The soonest it would be is five years from the date of the injury accident. Though because it is a contract claim it is considered to be 5 years from the breach of the contract. That might be a later date than the date of the collision. But filing your your claim with your insurance company sooner rather than later is better. If you miss this deadline, you may lose the opportunity to recover compensation, even if you have valid uninsured motorist coverage.
It’s important to note that the five-year time frame may vary depending on the specific details of your situation. In some cases, you may be able to extend the deadline. This is why it’s crucial to start the process as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Waiting too long can create unnecessary complications that could limit your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Why Time is of the Essence
While you technically have three years to file an uninsured motorist claim in Idaho, waiting too long to start the process can cause problems. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to gather evidence, find witnesses, or remember important details about the accident. Insurance companies may also be more likely to question the validity of your claim if too much time has passed since the accident.
In addition to these practical concerns, filing your claim as soon as possible can help ensure that your medical bills and other expenses are taken care of in a timely manner. Dealing with the financial aftermath of an accident is stressful enough without having to worry about missed deadlines or complications with your insurance company. Acting quickly can help minimize the risk of unnecessary delays or disputes over your claim.
Rules of a Personal Injury Claim Choosing a Personal Injury AttorneyRelated Videos
Differences Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, you might be interested in learning about the differences between uninsured and underinsured motorists. Take the time to watch this educational video and then call our the experienced attorneys at Hepworth Holzer for advice. We offer free consultations.
Question:
What’s the difference between underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage?
Answer:
What is the difference between uninsured motorist coverage benefits and underinsured motorist coverage benefits? The words kind of say the answer. If you’ve been in a car wreck and the at-fault driver is somebody who has no insurance at all, then you look to cover under your uninsured motorist coverage benefit of your policy. Your policy will have certain limits for each such claim, just like the at-fault driver does.
If you have such a claim, you need to understand that this is going to be directly against one of these big, bad insurance companies, and they’ve got big, bad lawyers that are looking to defend such claims. If you have such a claim, you would want the best, most experienced trial lawyer that you can get and one with the experience of pursuing claims directly against the insurance companies for either uninsured motorist coverage benefits or underinsured motorist coverage benefits. It’s your policy and you’re entitled to those benefits. You want somebody fighting for you that’s in your camp, not in theirs, because they, at that point, are not your friend— they’re your enemy.
If you have such a claim, you want to have somebody who has the experience and the track record of successfully pursuing such claims. Our firm has been doing this for longer than everyone, probably. Myself personally, I have been pursuing such claims for almost 30 years at this point. If you have such a claim, please feel free to call my personally, anytime, or any of the other lawyers at our law firm because we all do the same work and we all work very closely together. Please, call anytime.
Rules of an Underinsured Motorist Case
If you were injured in a car accident you might be worried that the other driver won’t have enough insurance to cover your injuries. Contact one of our Boise attorneys to learn about the rules of an underinsured motorist case in Idaho. We offer free consultations to injured residents.
Question:
Are there any special rules when the other driver who hit me doesn’t have enough insurance?
Answer:
Are there special rules that apply to a situation where you’re in a car crash, the other driver is at fault, and that driver does not have enough insurance to cover the value of your claim? Yes, there are special rules involved in those types of situations.
First, understand that you are actually entitled to sue the individual not only for their insurance up to their limits, but also personally for the value of your claim. While you have that perfect right, however, if the person has no financial stability or ability to satisfy the value of your claim, then you may have a claim that’s not worth pursuing. That’s the first question you have to ask yourself: Does the defendant have the financial wherewithal to satisfy judgment over and above their insurance limits?
If they don’t, then that triggers either an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, or, if the other driver had no insurance at all, an uninsured motorist claim under your own policy. Idaho law requires you to have, if you have a policy at all, uninsured motorist coverage. You don’t have to have underinsured motorist coverage, but most policies are sold with both benefits. Those claims are pursued directly against the insurance company, your own insurance company, for what would have been the value of the claim against the at-fault driver.
Insurance companies have lots of lawyers on retainer and they have seriously experienced lawyers who do this as a profession, so if you have such a claim, you, too, want to have an experienced lawyer on your side who has a track record of actually pursuing such claims and actually going to trial or hearing over such claims. You want them on your side. You want to level the playing field. You want somebody who has the track record of success in pursuing such claims.
As a law firm based in Boise, Idaho, we at Hepworth Holzer, LLP have extensive experience in handling personal injury cases, including those related to uninsured motorists. If you’ve been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver in Idaho, we can help you in the following ways:
We can evaluate your case to determine if you’re eligible for compensation under Idaho’s uninsured motorist laws. We can help you understand your legal rights and options and advise you on the best course of action.
We can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to UM claims. Our attorneys have experience in negotiating with insurance companies and can fight for your rights.
If negotiations with insurance companies fail, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf to recover damages. Our attorneys have experienced trial lawyers who will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries and other losses.
We can provide you with the emotional support and guidance you need during this difficult time. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful and overwhelming. We understand the challenges you may be facing and will provide you with the support you need to move forward.
We at Hepworth Holzer, LLP can help you navigate the complex world of Idaho’s uninsured motorist laws, negotiate with insurance companies, file a lawsuit if necessary, and provide you with support and guidance throughout the process. If you’ve been in an accident with an uninsured driver, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
