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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.auto
Subject: Re: Uninsured motorism
Message-ID: <734@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Sep-85 15:55:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.734
Posted: Tue Sep 17 15:55:14 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Sep-85 07:09:35 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.legal:2358 net.auto:8202

> In article <757@nmtvax.UUCP> allan@nmtvax.UUCP (Allan F. Perry) writes:
> >I think that an uninsured/underinsured motorist clause is a good thing to
> >have with your insurance.  A couple years ago, while I was sitting in the
> >house studying and heard a loud crash.  I went outside to find my car in
> >the neighbor's yard and a car speeding away from the scene.  The insurance
> >that my dad bought for my car did not have uninsured motorist, so I was
> >out a car (more or less).
> 
> Yup.  And I'll fill you in on a little secret.  If you HAD had UUM
> coverage, you'd STILL have been out a car.  I've had it on my policy
> for several years.  In 1981, on I-35 near Waco a (very probable) doper
> driving a delapidated old red Ford pickup rear-ended my car (I was
> only doing about 50, attempting a delicate passing maneuver on a 70-foot
> semi-mobile highway obstruction, at the time) and subsequently blasted
> away into the distance, while I struggled to regain control of my car
> on the inner shoulder.  I doubt that you can easily conceive of the number
> of times I have cursed myself for not making a more concerted effort
> to read the license number on that truck.  You see, in order to collect
> under the UUM clause, you potentially have to prove that the offending
> motorist doesn't have adequate insurance.  That's usually rather difficult
> when you can't even identify the person.
> 
> Do you understand now why UUM coverage is so cheap?  It is NOT hit-and run
> insurance.  Dry ice will form spontaneously in Hell long before the average
> policyholder will be able to collect under it.

I checked my policy.  It clearly states that included is  a vehicle
	"Which is a hit and run vehicle whose operator or
	owner cannot be identified..."
It also states:
	"If we and you do not agree as to whether or not
	a vehicle is actually uninsured, the burden of
	proof as to that issue shall be on us."

Perhaps the forms have changed since you had your experience.  Or
perhaps it varies from company to company.  It's a good idea to read
your policy over on occasion.

-- 
Glend.	I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
Hot.	Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you
	do call for them?    --  Henry IV Pt. I, III, i, 53

	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
	{allegra,ihnp4}!{ut-sally,noao}!utastro!bill	(UUCP)
	bill@astro.UTEXAS.EDU.				(Internet)


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