Do you have UIM/UM insurance coverage on your equipment? If you don’t know, check with your insurance agent. UM stands for Uninsured Motorist and UIM stands for Underinsured Motorist coverage. Compared to the benefits it can provide, it may not be that expensive to add to your policy.
Real World Example
There are millions of motorists driving around with little or no insurance these days. That’s why we offer claims help for trucking fleets and drivers impacted by uninsured or underinsured accidents. Because of this, UIM/UM coverage is very important to add to trucking policies. For example, our client Jeffrey was hit by a young driver with only $10,000 in insurance coverage. This was a problem because Jeffrey’s truck needed $10,000 in repairs and Jeffrey lost $30,000 in income from the month down. The at-fault driver’s insurance company offered to pay the $10,000 in repairs, but said that’s all they could pay because that was the limits of their coverage.
What Now?
What was Jeffrey to do? Jeffrey called his own insurance agent for advice. The agent said Jeffrey had UIM/UM coverage on his policy. Jeffrey filed a claim with his own insurance company for the losses that the at-fault insurance company wouldn’t pay. Jeffrey was paid in full for the lost income while his equipment was in the shop.
A Happy Insurance Ending
Because Jeffrey had UIM coverage, he was able to be made whole. Be your own best advocate and talk with your insurance agent before an accident happens. Ask your agent for other coverages which might be helpful in case of an accident, like rental reimbursement and downtime coverage.
Kelsea Eckert enjoys helping clients resolve their insurance and downtime claims. She is active in the trucking community and is always willing to speak with groups about transportation topics.
Kelsea was raised in the Bloomington, Illinois area and has practiced law since 1988. She lives in Florida and Kentucky, representing clients across the United States.
Over the years, she has written numerous books, including: The Illinois Legal Filing Directory, Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer, How to Form Your Own Corporation, Getting Paid in Full, Lawsuits of the Rich and Famous, and Selling Internationally, Without a Product.
Kelsea regularly speaks at trade shows, podcasts, and radio shows on transportation issues. She writes articles for newsletters, magazines and the Eckert & Associates, PA blog. Some of her writings and interviews are available on Transport Topics, Landline Media, Expediters Online, Service Truck Magazine, and other transportation media networks.
Kelsea attended Illinois State University and University of Georgia during her undergraduate years. She graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law. She is a member of the Illinois Bar and Florida Bar.
Kelsea is on the board of the Transportation Club of Jacksonville as the Driver Advocate Chair. She is involved in her community through volunteering, and she and her husband have two amazing children.