Does uninsured motorist cover hit and run in Tennessee?

Yes, insurance covers hit and run in many cases, depending on the types of insurance coverage carried by the person whose car gets hit. Collision coverage, coverage for medical expenses, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is needed to be protected in cases of hit and run.

In 22 states, however, drivers are only required to have … read full answerliability insurance, which covers bodily injury and property damage incurred by other people in accidents that the policyholder causes. Liability insurance does not cover the policyholder’s expenses, so it can’t be used in a hit and run unless the at-fault driver is located and has insurance.

Insurance That Protects Drivers After a Hit and Run

• Collision Coverage

Pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Not required in any state.

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or MedPay

Pays for your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP is required in 15 states, while MedPay is usually optional in other states.

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Pays for your expenses if you are hit by a driver with no insurance or with inadequate insurance, but can often be used after a hit and run since the other driver’s insurance can’t be identified. Required in almost half the states.

It’s important to note that there are two types of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury coverage can pay your medical bills if you’re injured in a hit and run, while property damage coverage can pay to repair your vehicle.

However, the property damage coverage is not available in all states. And even in some states where it is available, such as California and Illinois, it can only be used if the at-fault driver is identified and found to be uninsured or underinsured. If this is the case in your state, then you will need to purchase collision coverage to pay for damage to your vehicle after a hit and run.

Ultimately, a hit and run can be a frustrating experience, but there are some things you can do to make the insurance claims process a little bit easier. If you witness the hit and run, take note of the license plate number and the vehicle’s make and model. Also, make sure you call the police to file a report, and document all damage to your vehicle before reporting it to your insurance company. Finally, take the time to look at your policy so you can have a good understanding of what your insurer will pay for.

Yes, there is a deductible for uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) insurance in most states that require it or make it available. States that allow insurers to sell UMPD typically dictate the deductible amount, and depending on where you live, it can be as high as $1,000.

A car insurance … read full answerdeductible is the amount that a policyholder must pay for a claim before the insurance company will cover any costs. Most types of insurance that require deductibles, like collision and comprehensive insurance, allow the policyholder to choose the amount, but that’s usually not the case for UMPD.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Deductibles by State

• Alaska: $250
• Arkansas: $200
• Delaware: $250
• Georgia: $250 - $1,000
• Illinois: $250
• Louisiana: $250
• New Jersey: $500
• North Carolina: $100
• Rhode Island: $200
• South Carolina: $200 in most cases
• Tennessee: $200
• Texas: $250
• Vermont: $150 in some circumstances
• Virginia: $200 for hit-and-run claims
• West Virginia: $300
• Washington: $100 ($300 for hit-and-run claims)
• District of Columbia: $200

In some states, your UMPD deductible might vary based on the situation. For example, Virginia and Washington both require a UMPD deductible that’s specific to hit-and-run claims. Additionally, several states, including California and Indiana, offer UMPD but do not specify a deductible, leaving it up to the discretion of each insurance company.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to uninsured motorist property damage insurance.

Yes, you need uninsured motorist coverage even if you have collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision insurance will pay to repair your vehicle if you’re hit by an uninsured driver, but it won’t pay for any of your medical expenses, and comprehensive insurance won’t cover your costs at all after a collision. Comprehensive insurance only pays for repairs if your car is damaged by something other than a collision, such as vandalism or a natural disaster. And you would need uninsured motorist coverage, … read full answerpersonal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay to cover your medical expenses after a collision with an uninsured driver.

Types of Underinsured Motorist Coverage

There are two types of uninsured motorist coverage: bodily injury (UMBI) and property damage (UMPD). UMBI pays for your medical expenses after an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, while UMPD pays to repair or replace your car.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia require drivers to carry some type of uninsured motorist coverage. Some states like North Carolina and West Virginia require drivers to carry both types, while others like New York and Oregon only require uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. And in some other states, insurance companies don’t offer uninsured motorist property damage coverage at all.

When To Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Since collision and comprehensive coverage don’t cover medical expenses after an accident, you should carry uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance even if it’s not required in your state. The exception to this would be if you already carry personal injury protection or MedPay, which pay for your medical bills in accidents regardless of fault or if the other driver is uninsured.

If uninsured motorist property damage coverage isn’t available in your state or you’re not required to carry it, then you can purchase collision insurance instead. Unlike UMPD, collision insurance will cover repairs even if you were at fault, which gives you a wider safety net. However, UMPD is usually less expensive than collision insurance and carries a lower deductible.