, insurance companies do offer it. If you get into an accident in this “optional no-fault state,” it could be rather difficult to sue for damages. Uninsured motorist coverage can offer optimal financial support in the worst-case scenarios.

Pennsylvania’s minimum car insurance coverage requirements include

liability insurance

and medical benefits coverage (also called

personal injury protection

). While the limits are pretty conservative compared to other states, adding uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can help pay for steep medical costs that aren’t entirely covered by medical benefits.

Figuring out what type of

car insurance

applies across different situations and circumstances can be tricky. Fortunately,

Jerry

is here to guide you through everything you need to know about Pennsylvania uninsured motorist coverage.

Do you need uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania doesn’t require

uninsured motorist coverage

by law—but does that mean it’s unnecessary? Well, it depends.

The most up-to-date information from the

Insurance Information Institute (III)

shows that 6% of Pennsylvanians drive uninsured. And while the state’s percentage of insured drivers is much higher than the national average, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

Look at it this way: if you get into an accident, there’s a roughly one in 16 chance that the other driver is uninsured. Moreover, based on

PennDOT’s 2020 Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics

, there are about 286 crashes every day, in which 168 people are injured. That means if you’re unfortunate enough to get into an accident, it’s also 60% likely you’ll face steep medical bills and other accident-related costs.

Enter uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which helps pay for essential medical expenses after you’ve maxed out your liability insurance and medical benefits.

Rather than risk gambling with your finances, we’d advise you to instead go all in on UM coverage.

The average cost of basic liability car insurance is $2,553 per year in Pennsylvania. That’s a lot of money already, but when you consider yearly UM coverage costs between $50 and $100, it’s well worth the added peace of mind.

MORE:

The amount of uninsured drivers on the road

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How uninsured motorist insurance works in Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage must be offered in an equal amount to the liability coverage that you carry. And if you have insurance on more than one vehicle, you may also be able to stack your UM/UIM coverage by multiplying the amount of coverage you have by the number of vehicles on your policy.

You may choose to reject UM/UIM protection, but you’ll need to opt out by signing a separate waiver form.

This would not be a wise choice, however, as minimum liability insurance may barely help cover your losses after an accident. The state only requires $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident of

bodily injury liability

, meaning the former will only cover up to $15,000 per injured individual and up to $30,000 per accident of medical expenses.

This amount might seem like quite a lot, but consider

the average cost of an ER visit in Pennsylvania

: $1,645. This number doesn’t include surgery, rehabilitation, lost wages, ongoing medical care expenses, medications, or even the cost of an ambulance, which has risen by nearly 18% from 2017 to 2020.

If you are seriously injured in an accident, Pennsylvania minimum liability coverage may fall short by thousands of dollars.

MORE:

What is stacked car insurance?

What’s available

What are your options then, and what type of uninsured motorist coverage is recommended in Pennsylvania? Well, there are two types of UM/UIM coverage in Pennsylvania:

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage

: applies to you and your family if you’re hit by an at-fault uninsured motorist

Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: applies to you, your family, and your passengers for bodily injury if you’re hit by an at-fault motorist with insufficient insurance to cover your medical costs

Having uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania is a must—without it, you could lose the ability to recover damages for a car accident and reduce the overall value of your accident claim. Not to mention, even if the at-fault driver has some insurance, that doesn’t mean it’s enough to cover all of your expenses.

Essentially, in an accident with an at-fault driver who is carrying less coverage than the claim amount, your UIM coverage will take over to cover the deficiency. As a choice no-fault insurance state, Pennsylvania requires drivers to carry $5,000 in medical benefits or personal injury protection (PIP), but that’s a drop in the bucket when it comes to serious medical costs.

MORE:

What is a no-fault state?

What it covers

UM/UIM coverage in Pennsylvania offers protection from people on the road who do not have enough insurance to cover your medical expenses. This protection entitles you to bring a claim against your own insurance company to help pay for your medical expenses.

Here are the people covered under UM/UIM coverage when the other driver is at fault, including in the case of a

hit-and-run

The policyholder (including as a pedestrian)

Any other drivers listed on the policy

Passengers in the car at the time of the accident

Relatives of the insured person who are part of the same household

And these are the types of financial losses UM/UIM coverage will help pay for:

Hospital bills

Lost wages

Future medical care expenses and specialist visits

Services that you can no longer perform due to accident injuries, such as childcare or cleaning

Long-term rehabilitation or nursing services

Pain and suffering

While UM/UIM coverage isn’t required in Pennsylvania, the small amount of money you may save each month can’t compare to the tremendous mounting financial risk. Even a moderate accident could result in losing thousands of dollars on top of dealing with injuries. In the long run, it pays to protect yourself and your family members by adding UM/UIM coverage to your policy.

How to make a claim

Time is of the essence when making a UM/UIM claim. Immediately

after an accident

, make sure to exchange information with all of the involved drivers. If you’re injured and discover the other driver has insufficient or not enough insurance, you’ll need to file a UM/UIM claim with your insurance company as soon as possible.

Here’s a brief rundown of how to file an insurance claim:

Prepare basic information like your insurer’s name, insurance policy number, and the customer service line/number for filing a claim.

Notify your insurance company of the accident and explain the situation. Make sure you also keep a record of all the damages, injuries, and other details that are useful to your claim.

Typically, the company has 10 business days to supply the necessary claim forms, but many will respond within 24 hours. Complete and return the forms they send to you as quickly, accurately, and as detailed as possible for the smoothest filing process.

You may need to obtain a statement from the underinsured driver’s insurance company detailing their coverage limits. Your insurance company may also request to inspect for damages and to assess medical records tied to the injuries you’re claiming. If you’re uncertain about the terms of your insurance or the nature of the accident, it may be wise to consult

a good car insurance lawyer

MORE:

Here’s what happens if you’re in a car accident without insurance

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Why it’s a good idea to buy uninsured motorist insurance in Pennsylvania

Unfortunately, uninsured motorist insurance isn’t a requirement in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania car insurance laws

require fairly low coverage limits, and it’s not fun to be caught in a situation where you wish you had more coverage. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider uninsured motorist insurance in the Keystone State.

UM/UIM stacking is available for purchase under Pennsylvania law

Pennsylvania allows drivers to stack coverage, which will allow you to maximize your protections. Essentially, you’re able to combine (and thereby boost) coverage limits in an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

As an example, say you have two vehicles each with an uninsured motorist coverage policy offering $100,000. With stacked insurance, you can combine these two policies for a total policy limit of $200,000—for a rather small increase in premium pricing.

UM/UIM coverage is simply one of the best ways to ensure financial security for yourself and your loved ones in the event of a car crash, and the savings could be more than substantial.

Pennsylvania ranks No. 6 in the country for fatal accidents

While UM/UIM coverage can’t cover funeral expenses, it can help cover serious damages that result from a bad car accident.

Nearly half of fatal car accidents in Pennsylvania can be attributed to speeding, ranking the state third in the nation for the most speeding-related fatalities. Moreover, speeding is the most common cause of all crashes in Pennsylvania. While you may not suffer any fatalities, you will likely sustain serious (and costly) injuries.

MORE:

Pennsylvania reckless driving

6% of Pennsylvania drivers are uninsured

To be fair, 6% of uninsured drivers out of the entire state of Pennsylvania doesn’t seem like all that much. But that’s part of what makes driving so insidious at times: you never know what you could literally run into.

Not to mention, Pennsylvania is a pretty diverse state. From Amish-country horses and buggies in and around

Lancaster

to aggressive city drivers in

Pittsburgh

and

Philadelphia

, there are several challenges, hazards, and cultural attitudes around driving.

No matter where you live, what you drive, or your driving habits, it’s well worth fully covering your bases and maximizing the amount of compensation you’re entitled to following an accident with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

MORE:

Everything you need to know about driving in Philadelphia

How to save on uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania

Understandably, drivers usually choose not to buy uninsured motorist coverage in Pennsylvania because of the added expense. But it’s much better to pay out small amounts on a UM/UIM coverage policy over time than to accrue a $100,000+ hospital bill in a matter of seconds! Nevertheless, a little bit here and there certainly adds up.

Whether you’re putting off adding UM coverage to your policy due to the cost, you want to lower your premium, or you’re not satisfied with your level of coverage,

Jerry

can help you with all the above. The App Store’s #1-rated car insurance app is a licensed broker partnered with 55+ insurance companies.

In 45 seconds flat, Jerry will analyze your driver profile and suggest personalized rates and policies. All you need to do is pick the plan that best serves your needs and budget and Jerry will help with the rest, from switching you over to your new policy to canceling your old one.

Want to know how much Jerry can save you every year on car insurance? More than $800 on average—all while saving you time and sparing you from the hassles inherent in traditional insurance comparison shopping!

“Just for state minimum liability, I was getting quotes from $70 to over $100/month until I found
Jerry
. Now my car insurance is under $30/month, or $140 for 6 months. Thank you, Jerry!” —Frank S.

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