We have a lot more traffic in downtown Montello than you might think. This means that statistically, there are potentially many more uninsured or underinsured motorists on the road at the same time as you. That’s why it’s a great idea to be thinking about the amount of auto liability insurance you’re carrying as we head into the busier summer months.
Montello Traffic – By the Numbers
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation keeps track of the number of car trips that take place on roads all across the state. They even have an interactive Traffic Count map that you can view to see how busy various roads are. On a typical weekday, there is an average of about 8,000 “short” car trips in the downtown Montello area. Would you have guessed there are that many?
Meanwhile, according to data from the Insurance Research Council, about 14 percent of motorists in Wisconsin have no auto insurance at all. Statistically speaking, this means that in about 1,100 of those “short” car trips in downtown Montello every day, there is an uninsured motorist behind the wheel. Those numbers don’t include all of the tourists or people who are just passing through on their way to Marquette.
Also, keep in mind that the 14 percent uninsured motorist statistic is an old number (from 2015). There are likely a lot more uninsured or under-insured motorists on the road right now, due to the recent economic shutdowns. When people had to make a choice between their car insurance or putting food on the table, the car insurance lost. We don’t know what the true percentage of uninsured motorists is right now, but it is likely higher than 14 percent.
Why Your Car Insurance Matters So Much
Wisconsin is an at-fault state. If you cause an accident that injures another person or their property (such as their vehicle), you are responsible for paying for those damages. Your liability coverage is what will pay for another person’s injuries if you are at-fault in a crash.
But what happens if you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist — and they are at fault? This is a nightmare scenario for many people. Imagine that several members of your family were seriously injured in an accident, which was caused by a motorist with no liability insurance. You could easily rack up medical bills in excess of half a million dollars.
You have four options in this scenario:
- Pay the bills yourself out of pocket for the rest of your life.
- Declare medical bankruptcy, thereby losing many assets and destroying your credit.
- Sue the at-fault driver. This can take years, you might not win, and uninsured motorists tend not to have many assets you can sue them for anyway.
- Carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance.
Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is what protects you if you’re injured in an accident when an at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance — or when their insurance limits are too low to pay for your injuries. We’re really encouraging drivers right now to rethink those limits on their own coverage, especially with so many potential additional uninsured motorists on the road.
Another nice option to consider is medical payments coverage on your insurance. This benefit is paid to you to help cover medical costs, regardless of who is at-fault in a crash.
Contact Giuffre Insurance for Car Insurance
One of our agents would be happy to discuss your coverage limits with you at Giuffre Insurance, whether you’re an existing customer or looking for a better rate on your current insurance. Call our office at (608) 297-8429 for a free quote!
