Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Alabama: The Insurance You Did Not Know You Had

Every Alabama auto policy includes uninsured motorist coverage unless you rejected it in writing. If the driver who hit you has no insurance, or not enough, your own policy may pay for your injuries. If your insurer cannot produce a signed rejection form, the coverage exists whether you knew about it or not.

That single rule has rescued more injury cases in my office than any other.

The problem it solves

Alabama requires drivers to carry liability insurance of at least twenty five thousand dollars per injured person, fifty thousand per accident, and twenty five thousand for property damage. Plenty of drivers carry nothing at all, and plenty more carry only those minimums. A hospital bill from one night in an emergency room can pass twenty five thousand dollars without trying. When the at fault driver cannot pay, the money has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is usually your own uninsured motorist coverage.

Where the right comes from

Alabama Code Section 32-7-23 requires every auto liability policy delivered in this state to include uninsured motorist coverage unless the insured rejects it in writing. Courts read policies as containing the coverage by default. The burden sits on the insurance company to produce a valid signed rejection. No signed rejection, no rejection.

Underinsured motorist coverage works the same way and matters just as often. If the other driver carries minimum limits and your damages are worth three times that, your underinsured coverage can pay the difference up to your own limits.

What most people get wrong

First, people assume a claim against their own insurer will raise their rates or feels disloyal. You paid for this coverage. Using it is not a betrayal, it is the contract working.

Second, people take the at fault driver's word that there is no insurance and give up. We verify. Sometimes there is a policy after all, or an employer's policy, or more than one household policy that stacks.

Third, people settle with the at fault driver's carrier without telling their own insurer first. Alabama underinsured claims have notice requirements, and settling the wrong way can jeopardize the second claim. Talk to a lawyer before signing anything.

The deadline still applies

The two year statute of limitations for Alabama personal injury claims runs while you negotiate. A wrongful death claim runs two years from the date of death. Insurance carriers know the deadline and are happy to let you drift toward it. If your wreck was more than a year ago and nothing is resolved, the time to act is now.

The Law Offices of Elliott Owen Lipinsky handles injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee across Selma, Dallas County, Montgomery, and West Alabama. The consultation is free and I review the insurance policies myself. Call (334) 230-7986.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have uninsured motorist coverage if I never asked for it?

Almost certainly yes. Alabama law puts the coverage in every auto policy unless you signed a written rejection. If no signed rejection exists, the coverage exists.

What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

A hit and run driver is generally treated as uninsured. Your own UM coverage can apply, which is one more reason to report the wreck immediately.

Will a UM claim raise my insurance rates?

Alabama insurers generally may not penalize you for an accident that was not your fault. Ask your agent, and do not let fear of a rate change waive real money.

Can I stack coverage from more than one vehicle?

Often yes. Alabama allows stacking of uninsured motorist coverage on multiple vehicles within a policy in many circumstances. It can multiply the money available, and it is worth a careful policy review.

What is my claim worth?

Medical bills, lost wages, future treatment, and pain and suffering all count. No honest lawyer can value a case in a blog post. Bring me the policy and the records and I will give you a straight answer.