Uninsured motorist coverage in Colorado is optional. Insurers must offer it, but you can turn it down. Marlo Greer’s advice is simple: don’t say no. This coverage pays for your damages and injuries when the driver who hits you has no insurance or not enough, as in the hit-and-run example below.
Uninsured vs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is there to give you a way to recover for damages when the person who hit your car doesn’t have insurance (uninsured) or does have coverage but not enough to pay for your damages and injuries (underinsured).
Some states require motorists to purchase underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage; Colorado is not one of them. Insurers must offer it, and you can only turn it down in writing under C.R.S. § 10-4-609. So when you see that option from your insurer, think carefully before you decline. Saving a few bucks per month now could cost you tens of thousands or more later.
A Hit-and-Run Example
You’re driving along, minding your own business, just trying to get to work on time or back home from the grocery store, and BAM! Some idiot slams into your car and then drives away without stopping. Despite the shock of the crash, you’ve had the presence of mind to remember their license plate number and give it to the police, who show up in response to your 911 call. But when they run the plate, they tell you the car that hit you was reported stolen. What do you do? How will you pay for your medical bills and car repairs?
Even if you track down the owner of the stolen car, their insurance company is likely to refuse to pay your claim, arguing that the person who had stolen the car was using it without the owner’s permission. In that case, you’ll have to look to your own insurance company for coverage. Your uninsured motorist coverage can pay for your injuries, and your collision coverage usually pays for damage to your car. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself properly. For more on this situation, read Hit by a Stolen Car in Colorado: Who Pays?
See what Marlo Greer has to say on TikTok about protecting yourself from uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Related Reading
- Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Colorado: Your Options
- Who Pays Medical Bills After a Colorado Car Crash?
Using Coverage After a Hit-and-Run Injury
If you’ve been injured or your car has been damaged by a hit-and-run driver, Greer Law can help you, even if you have uninsured or underinsured coverage. It’s not unusual for your own insurance company to try to lowball you, offering you much less than fair compensation for your damages and injuries. We understand how insurers work and the tactics they use, and we can help you negotiate for the compensation you’re entitled to.
To learn more about how Greer Law can help you negotiate your fair recovery, contact us at 303-331-6460 or use our contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
