Dewayne Hopson is an attorney in Clarksdale, MS. This article is for informational purposes only and by reading this article you acknowledge this general information should not be construed as legal advice.
Get uninsured motorist coverage, especially if you live in Mississippi!
Don’t be cheap, get uninsured motorist coverage. Especially if you live in Mississippi, don’t pass on it. I know it’s tempting to just get liability coverage on that old car which is only required by Mississippi Law, but please go ahead and purchase uninsured motorist coverage. Car insurance companies are required to offer it to you, but you can reject. Don’t reject it.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
For those who don’t know, uninsured motorist coverage is when you have an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance on their car. Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re in an accident with an at-fault driver who doesn’t carry liability insurance. Most of the time uninsured motorist coverage covers property damage as well.
Why is it so important to have in Mississippi?
Mississippi is among the top states in the country with drivers who does not have car insurance. Nationwide, 12.6 percent of drivers, about 1 in 8, are uninsured, according to the latest data report from the Insurance Research Council. According to carinsurance.com, 23% of Mississippi drivers are uninsured. That’s almost 1 out of every 4 drivers. If you live in Mississippi Delta, the percentage is most likely even worse. See the below picture to compare Mississippi with other states in the U.S.
What does this have to do with law and why is a lawyer writing about it?
In my time as a legal professional, there have been many times where our law firm has had to disengage with clients because they were involved in an accident where neither driver had any car insurance or uninsured motorist coverage. There are not many options available when the at fault driver did not have any insurance and you didn’t have any uninsured motorist coverage.
You can get a judgement against the defendant driver for the accident, but most of the time drivers don’t have a pile of money or assets to hand over. If they didn’t have car insurance, I’m pretty sure they don’t have a pot of gold laying around anywhere to give you.
At Hopson Law Group we represent clients who are having a tough time dealing with their insurance companies. You can reach us at 662-624-4100 to set up an appointment for a free consultation to get help with your insurance claim or uninsured motorist claim!