With the many factors that enter into the automobile insurance purchasing process, it is important for you to be well informed in order to make intelligent decisions. One such decision concerns whether to purchase uninsured motorists (UM) and underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage.

UM coverage provides insurance protection for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, caused by a motorist who is not insured. This coverage allows you to collect from your own insurance company as if it provided liability coverage for the negligent and uninsured driver. In contrast, UIM coverage provides insurance protection for bodily injury, and in some states property damage, sustained by you when a motorist who has liability insurance (but is still not sufficiently insured) negligently causes an accident. The following list provides reasons why you should procure UM/UIM coverage.

• The chance of a negligent uninsured motorist hitting you is greater than you might think. According to the latest data from the Insurance Research Council (IRC), Rhode Island has the eighth-highest statewide rate of uninsured motorists in the U.S., at 17.6 percent, which is higher than the nationwide average of nearly 14 percent. That statistic translates to nearly 2 of every 10 vehicles you pass while driving in our state is being operated without insurance!
   
• UM and UIM coverage is broad, since it provides benefits for you and your family members' injuries sustained (a) in your own covered auto, (b) in autos you do not own, and (c) as pedestrians.
   
• The cost for this coverage is very reasonable, compared to liability coverage and physical damage coverage for your own car. The increased costs for higher UM/UIM limits are quite affordable for most people.
  
  
• If your car is damaged by an uninsured driver, the deductible for UM property damage, if available in your state, is normally only $250. This amount is often considerably less than your collision coverage deductible.