Chris Yarbro settled a phantom driver uninsured motorist suit for $225,000. The client was injured during a hit and run accident. At the time of the accident, the client was driving a car owned by his fianceé. This car was insured with an uninsured motorist endorsement providing $25,000 in coverage. The client owned two separate vehicles. The client’s vehicles were each insured with a similar endorsement providing $100,000 in uninsured motorist coverage. After undergoing extensive medical treatment in connection with his injuries, a demand was placed for the full amount of all available insurance coverage, including stacking the two $100,000 policies. The insurance companies agreed to the demand, and paid the fully stacked coverage under the policies as settlement.

Uninsured motorists cause higher costs for all of us in terms of higher premiums and unpaid property damage claims when dealing with an uninsured or underinsured motorist in an accident. Approximately one in six drivers (16.67%) across the United States may be driving uninsured, according to a study from the Insurance Research Council (IRC). Missouri was slightly better than this estimate, with approximately 14% of all Missouri drivers being uninsured. The problem is that the study was performed in 2008, with the statistics used being collected in 2005-2007. The economic downturn has likely caused these estimates to be low.

Unfortunately, we will each have to act to protect ourselves until the Missouri legislature raises the minimum limits and passes legislation to help improve enforcement of the law. Many professionals recommend that you should carry insurance with limits of uninsured and underinsured motorist limits of at least $100,000.00 to protect yourself. You should take time to review your policy to make sure that you have underinsured motorist coverage as this is not a required coverage in Missouri. If you have questions about insurance coverage, or if you have been injured in an auto accident, please contact us at (573 686-2459.