Arizona's Uninsured Motorist Problem — Protect Yourself

Arizona requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance — $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. But an estimated 12% of Arizona drivers are on the road with no insurance at all. That’s roughly one in eight.

What Happens When an Uninsured Driver Hits You?

If a driver with no insurance causes your accident, you can’t collect from a policy that doesn’t exist. You can sue the driver personally, but most uninsured drivers are uninsured because they can’t afford it — meaning they likely have no assets to collect against.

This is where uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on your own policy becomes critical. We’ve written extensively about why UIM coverage matters, but here’s the short version: it’s the only reliable protection against uninsured drivers.

The Minimum Coverage Problem

Even drivers who ARE insured often carry only Arizona’s minimum — $25,000 per person. A single surgery can cost $50,000 or more. A traumatic brain injury case can exceed $500,000 in medical costs alone. If the at-fault driver has minimum coverage, their $25,000 policy won’t scratch the surface.

This is what “underinsured” motorist coverage addresses — the gap between what the at-fault driver’s policy covers and what your damages actually are.

How Much UIM Should You Carry?

We recommend matching your UIM limits to your liability limits, with a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 and ideally $250,000/$500,000 or higher if you can afford it. The cost difference is often just a few dollars per month — a trivial expense compared to the protection it provides.

The Hit-and-Run Connection

With roughly 20,000 hit-and-runs per year in Phoenix, the chances of being hit by a driver who flees — and is never identified — are real. UM coverage treats an unidentified hit-and-run driver the same as an uninsured driver. Without it, you have no path to recovery.

Review your auto policy today. If you don’t have UM/UIM coverage — or if your limits are too low — call your agent. And if you’ve been hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, call the Law Badgers at (833) DTF-IGHT.