Rising prices for gas, food, and housing have many people looking for ways to cut costs. For some, that means scaling back on auto insurance. We understand financial pressure is real, and trimming a monthly bill can feel like a reasonable short-term solution. But if you are ever hit by a driver who carries little to no insurance, that decision could cost you far more than the amount you saved.
At Rachel Frazier Johnson Law, our team has handled many cases where seriously injured clients were left without enough coverage to pay their medical bills. We want every Arizona driver to understand the protections available to them, starting with uninsured and underinsured motorist (UI/UIM) coverage.
UI/UIM coverage is important because it:
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you when the at-fault driver carries no liability insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage takes effect when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits fall short of your actual damages.
Arizona’s minimum liability requirement is 25/50/15: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. A single ambulance ride and overnight hospital stay in Arizona can easily exceed $20,000. UM/UIM coverage fills that much-needed gap in insurance.
Arizona law mandates that all drivers carry liability insurance, but not everyone complies. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that approximately 12% of Arizona drivers are uninsured. Many more carry only the state minimum, which is often insufficient when serious injuries are involved.
Without UM coverage, your options are limited. You could sue the at-fault driver directly, but collecting a judgment from someone with no assets is rarely successful. You may also face mounting medical bills with no clear path to compensation.
UM/UIM coverage can help pay for a wide range of damages, including:
These benefits matter most when injuries are severe, long-term, or result in permanent changes to your quality of life. Without this coverage, victims are often left absorbing costs that should have been covered.
Filing a UM/UIM claim means filing with your own insurer, which can feel straightforward. In practice, it often is not. Insurance companies, including your own, may look for ways to reduce or deny your claim. Adjusters may try to dispute the severity of your injuries, challenge liability, or delay the process.
Our team at Rachel Frazier Johnson Law knows how to handle these claims. From building the documentation needed to support your full recovery to resolving your claim, we work to protect your rights at every stage. Having a legal representative levels the playing field when your insurer pushes back.
UM/UIM coverage is one of the most valuable protections available to Arizona drivers. The cost of adding the coverage to your policy is small compared to the financial risk of going without it. Additionally, some insurance agents do not clearly explain these options, or may even discourage people from adding the coverage. Do not let that happen to you.
If you have been injured in an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, Rachel Frazier Johnson Law is ready to help. With more than 29 years of experience representing injured clients across Arizona, our team is committed to fighting for the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
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