Car insurance is a monthly, semiannual or annual expense that many people would love to avoid. People in Wisconsin can pay hundreds of dollars for a policy, and many people are eager to reduce how much they have to spend on this mandatory expense.
One of the most common ways for people to reduce their insurance cost is to purchase the least amount of coverage they can legally carry and still drive on the Wisconsin roads. That means that there are quite a few drivers that you cross paths with who don’t have enough insurance protection to adequately compensate you in the event that they cause a crash.
What does Wisconsin require from drivers?
The whole point of carrying a motor vehicle liability insurance policy is to protect a driver from the legal and financial liability and other people from getting into a crash that produces expenses they cannot pay.
Typically speaking, the driver who caused the crash will be the one whose insurance covers the costs related to injuries or property damage. You could find yourself relying on the coverage purchased by someone else to protect you from the costs associated with property damage and medical expenses, as well as lost wages and other costs you’ve suffered due to the crash.
Regarding property damage, a driver only needs to carry $10,000 worth of liability protection. For medical liability, the Wisconsin requirement is $25,000 worth of protection for an accident with one injured individual and $50,000 worth of coverage for a crash that hurts two or more people.
Your insurance policy can help close the gap
Those amounts of coverage could be woefully inadequate. Especially if there are multiple people who get hurt or if the injuries someone suffers are more significant, such as brain injuries or spinal cord injuries, the cost could well exceed the available insurance coverage.
Instead of trying to simply minimize the costs associated with insuring your vehicle, it may be a smarter strategy to try to maximize your protection. After all, if you’re already paying for it, you might as well get as much as possible for your money. Adding underinsured and uninsured driver covered can help you if someone else causes a crash and doesn’t have enough insurance to fully protect you. If you don’t have that coverage, a personal injury lawsuit may be another option.