Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Ohio?

Every state in the U.S. except Virginia and New Hampshire have minimum car insurance requirements.

While some states require that you have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, Ohio isn’t one of them.

You might be wondering: “Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Ohio?”

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about Ohio uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage.

Minimum Coverage Requirements in Ohio

The state of Ohio has minimum requirements for liability car insurance coverage. This includes both coverage for property damage and bodily injury. However, there is no requirement when it comes to underinsured or uninsured motorist insurance coverage.

The current insurance laws in Ohio require that drivers must maintain a minimum of:

$25,000 per individual injured in any one car accident
$50,000 for all individuals injured in any one car accident
$25,000 for destruction of property or injury to others in any one car accident

While these are the minimum coverage requirements, most people choose to purchase more coverage than this state minimum. This is because damages that exceed your policy limits can leave you personally responsible for the remaining cost, if you are at fault. Without adequate coverage, both you and your personal assets are at risk.

Coverage Types of Auto Insurance

If you only have liability insurance, you’re only covering the other person’s associated costs, if you’re the one at fault. There are additional types of car insurance that can help cover your property losses or injuries.

The most common types of additional car insurance include:

Comprehensive: A comprehensive insurance policy provides coverage for repair costs when your car is damaged by an event other than a car accident, such as a natural disaster, vandalism, theft, or if you were to hit an animal.
Collision: A collision policy covers the cost of physical damage repairs to your vehicle that was caused by an accident.
Uninsured/Underinsured: An uninsured motorist policy covers any losses you suffer in a vehicle accident that was caused by a driver with no insurance. Ohio underinsured motorist coverage can help cover the costs if you’ve suffered losses in a hit-and-run accident or in an accident where your damages exceed the insurance provided by the driver who crashed into you.

Why Uninsured and Underinsured Coverage Is Important

When you get into an accident with an underinsured or an uninsured driver, the process can be both complicated and frustrating. If an uninsured motorist causes bodily injury in Ohio, often the victim is left to pay for medical expenses and vehicle repair. Find Lawyers

When you purchase an uninsured motorist policy, it can provide coverage for any damages that are caused by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, or in a case where the driver cannot be identified.

About 12% of drivers in Ohio don’t have any auto liability insurance, and many other drivers are inadequately insured in the case of even a low impact vehicle accident. In addition to an uninsured motorist policy, you can purchase an underinsured motorist policy that can cover the damages that aren’t covered by the negligent driver’s policy. This can protect you in the case of a serious accident where the damages far exceed the responsible party’s policy limits.

If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident, We’re Here to Help

If you’ve been in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, the process can be stressful, complicated, and incredibly frustrating. For example, if you are in a car wreck where the other driver is at fault, all the drivers have the $25,000 state minimum policy and you have $50,000 in damages, under Ohio law you only have insurance for the $25,000 state minimum policy and cannot get the $25,000 from the other driver’s policy. It pays for you to get more than the $25,000 state minimum policy. You deserve experienced and compassionate representation to ensure that all your questions are answered and that you receive the compensation you are entitled to receive.

Our experienced car accident attorneys at SELPH LAW can assist you. During our over 25 years of combined practice, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for victims of car accidents in Franklin County and Central Ohio.

Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Ohio?