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A: BI stands for 'bodily injury .' This type of coverage will pay claims for injury you negligently cause to another as a result of the use of your vehicle. Montana state law requires that every driver carry insurance for bodily injury with policy limits of at least $25,000. UM stands for 'uninsured motorist' or 'underinsured motorist .' If you are injured by a negligent driver who does not have liability insurance (or inadequate liability insurance), you may make a claim with your own insurance carrier if you have UM coverage. When you make a UM claim, your insurance carrier "stands in the shoes" of the negligent driver and is permitted to assert all defenses that this driver may have had against you (e.g., comparative fault, excessive medical treatment, etc.).

UIM stands for Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This is insurance coverage you have on your own vehicles. UIM is best explained by example. Let’s say for example that a driver hits your car and they only have $25,000 of bodily injury insurance coverage on their vehicle. However, your medical bills or lost wages exceed $25,000. Then your UIM will pay for bills and lost wages that exceed the $25,000 of insurance of the person that ran into you.

Medical Payments coverage pays for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault for the collision. Although the law does not require that you carry UIM and Medical Payments coverage, insurance companies must offer these types of coverages to you. If you choose to reject UIM and Medical Payments coverage, your insurance company must record your rejection in writing. An insurance company's failure to obtain your written rejection of UIM or Medical Payments coverage prevents the carrier from denying the claim, even if you didn't specifically pay for this type of coverage.

Our advice to you is to buy as much insurance as possible for BI, UM, UIM, and Medical Payments coverage. Feel free to fax your insurance policy to my office at 406.656.3044 for a FREE review.