Vermont's UM/UIM Protections
Vermont requires auto insurers to include uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or carries too little to cover your injuries. After a serious crash, the other driver's minimum liability policy is often exhausted long before your medical bills are paid — and that is exactly when UM/UIM coverage becomes essential.
Many Vermonters do not realize they can make a claim against their own policy in these situations, or that UM/UIM coverage may also apply to hit-and-run crashes where the responsible driver is never identified.
Why These Claims Can Be Contentious
A UM/UIM claim is made against your own insurer, but that does not make it easy. The same company that collected your premiums may dispute the value of your injuries or argue the other driver was not truly underinsured. Treating it like any other adversarial claim — with full documentation of liability and damages — protects your recovery.
Coordinating UM/UIM benefits with the at-fault driver's coverage, health insurance, and any other available policies requires careful attention to Vermont law and your specific policy terms.
Getting the Coverage You Paid For
Through a UM/UIM claim you may recover medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits. The deadlines for these claims can differ from ordinary injury claims and depend on your policy, so prompt legal advice is important. A free review can confirm what coverage is available to you.
Injured in Vermont? Get a free, confidential case review today. There's no obligation, and you pay no fee unless you win. Call 973-566-5599.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing upfront. Our network attorneys work on contingency, so you pay no fee unless they recover compensation for you. The case review is always free.
Generally three years from the date of injury under 12 V.S.A. § 512. Claims involving a government entity under the Vermont Tort Claims Act can have shorter notice deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.
Vermont's modified comparative negligence rule (12 V.S.A. § 1036) lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of fault.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Vermont attorney.