Collision insurance helps cover damages to your car when the cause of the damage is an accident involving another car or stationary object. Collision generally covers the damages regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. The coverage limit will usually be the value of your vehicle, minus your established deductible.

If it’s determined you’re not at fault, your insurance provider may collect the cost to repair your vehicle—including your deductible—through a process called subrogation.

Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments

For bodily injury to the drivers and passengers in your vehicle, personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments insurance apply to help cover medical costs, loss of income, and other post-accident expenses. 

PIP is required in some states but is unavailable in others. Medical payments coverage, meanwhile, is only required in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Maine, and is optional (or at least rejectable) in almost all other states.

Uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage 

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage helps protect you against loss from accidents where another driver is at fault and doesn’t have—or has insufficient—liability coverage. 

Nearly one in eight drivers on the road are uninsured, and even more are driving around with insufficient insurance. If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver and you don’t carry this coverage, you could end up paying for your expenses out of pocket.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also offer a more efficient process for compensating your losses compared to pursuing legal claims in court.