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Protection for the coverage gap.
I strongly recommend that Michigan drivers consider carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and discuss meaningful limits with their insurance agent. You cannot control whether the driver who hurts you has enough insurance.
UM — Uninsured motorist coverage
UM may protect an insured person injured by an at-fault driver who has no applicable liability insurance. Certain hit-and-run situations may also qualify, depending on the policy.
UIM — Underinsured motorist coverage
UIM may protect an insured person when the at-fault driver has liability insurance that is insufficient under the policy’s definition of an underinsured vehicle. Low liability limits alone do not automatically establish a UIM claim.
These are optional, contract-based coverages. Who is insured, covered injuries, exclusions, limits, and how other insurance is credited depend on the actual policy. UIM is not automatically an extra payment equal to the limit printed on your declarations page.
Before a settlement, check the consent requirement.
Obtain any required written consent from the UM/UIM insurer before settling with or releasing the at-fault party. Some policies also impose conditions on taking a liability claim to judgment.
Skipping a required step can jeopardize coverage. Notice of an offer is not necessarily consent to accept it, and silence should not be treated as approval.
The sequence matters.
- Identify the coverage early. Obtain the full policy and endorsements, not just the declarations page. Review who qualifies and which vehicles or incidents are covered.
- Check notice and timing requirements. Reporting conditions, suit deadlines, and proof requirements may differ from the underlying liability claim.
- Coordinate the liability claim. Examine applicable liability limits, policy exhaustion provisions, consent requirements, and the insurer’s rights against responsible parties before a settlement or release.
- Evaluate the actual available benefit. Policy definitions, offsets, exclusions, other coverage, and the damages evidence affect what may be payable.
Having your own coverage does not remove the dispute.
Your own carrier may contest fault, injury, value, or whether the contract covers the claim. I help keep the liability case and UM/UIM requirements coordinated so an avoidable procedural mistake does not undermine your position.
References & legal context
- Michigan Court of Appeals — Hanback v MemberSelect (unpublished, March 24, 2022)
- Michigan DIFS — Purchasing auto insurance
General information, not legal advice. Eligibility, coverage, deadlines, and available damages depend on the law, policy terms, and facts. Reviewed October 22, 2026.