Unfortunately, there's not much you and I can do about dangerous drivers in Colorado. But, we can take steps to protect ourselves and our families from getting hurt and having no financial recourse. What's the best way to do that? Buying as much Uninsured/Underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage as you can afford.

What is UM/UIM coverage? Think of it as a "fail-safe" or contingency plan. In the military, every tactical operation has a contingency plan if things go off the rails. Well, if you're minding your business driving down the road and a reckless driver wipes you out through no fault of your own, I'd say that's when things go off the rails. UM/UIM coverage is purchased with your liability car insurance and applies if you are injured in a car crash and your damages exceed all known liability insurance limits. 

How does it protect you and your family if someone is seriously hurt? Your UM/UIM carrier has a duty to cover damages in excess of the liability coverage. A claim is made on that policy for medical bills, non-economic damages (pain and suffering), lost wages, impairment etc. Now, there is often a fight with the insurance company as to how much they should pay but having the appropriate coverage is the first step toward success.

My recommended coverage: you should purchase a minimum of $1 million in UM/UIM coverage. Here's a stat that will scare you: on average, 1 in 8 drivers in our country do not have car insurance. Think about that for a second: for every 8 cars you see on I-25 one of those is uninsured. In Colorado, 17.5% of drivers are uninsured. And that is only the uninsured drivers. It doesn't account for drivers who have minimum coverage (in Colorado its $25,000).

If you own multiple vehicles or classic vehicles or a motor home/RV, consider purchasing separate policies on those vehicles. In Colorado, you can "stack" UM/UIM coverage on top of each other. So, if you have 3 separate $1 million policies for different vehicles, you actually have $3 million in coverage. However, if all vehicles are on one policy the $1 million aggregate applies. 

Our strong advice is to purchase as much UM/UIM coverage you can afford. If tragedy strikes and you or a family member is seriously injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, the UM/UIM policy will provide the funds needed to hopefully cover your damages. 

If you have any questions about bodily injury coverage or if you've been seriously hurt in a car accident in Colorado, contact Kane Trial Law in Castle Rock at 303-919-7777 for a free consultation.