A New Year’s Financial Checkup Most Drivers Overlook: UM Coverage

As we settle into 2026, many of us are focused on resolutions — exercising more, getting organized, or improving our finances. But there’s one important piece of “financial house-cleaning” that almost everyone overlooks:

Your Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage.

This single line item on your auto insurance policy can make the difference between financial security and long-term hardship after a serious accident.

What Is UM Coverage — and Why It Matters

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM) coverage protects you when your injuries and losses exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance — whether that driver:

• Only carries the minimum coverage

• Has no insurance at all

• Or leaves the scene of the accident

In Georgia, drivers are only required to carry $25,000 in liability coverage. That means if someone with minimum insurance causes a serious crash, their policy can pay no more than $25,000 — even if your medical bills, lost wages, and recovery costs are far higher.

Without UM coverage, the remaining costs may fall directly on you.

A Real-World Example

Imagine this scenario:

Your medical bills after a crash total $150,000.The at-fault driver carries only $50,000 in insurance.

That leaves you with a $100,000 gap.

With adequate UM coverage, your own insurance steps in to cover that difference — including medical expenses and pain and suffering — up to the UM limit you selected.

UM coverage exists so you are not financially punished because someone else failed to carry adequate insurance.

Why UM Coverage Is More Important Than Ever

Healthcare costs have skyrocketed over the past few decades, yet Georgia’s minimum insurance limits have barely changed.

Today, even a “minor” accident can easily exceed $25,000 in medical costs.

Although UM coverage is optional, it is one of the most valuable protections you can purchase for yourself and your family. Because I see the real consequences of underinsurance every day, I personally carry $500,000 in UM coverage.

My Recommendation for the New Year

Take five minutes to review your auto insurance policy:

• Check how much UM coverage you have

• Confirm whether it is stacked or non-stacked

• Consider whether your limits truly protect your family

Don’t wait until after a collision to discover you were under-insured.

If You Have Questions About UM Coverage

If you’ve been in an accident or have questions about your insurance protection, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Understanding your rights and coverage before a crash can change everything after one.

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and peaceful New Year.

— Jonathan Flack

Flack Injury Law