There is a large worry in the United States that many of the drivers on the road are uninsured. This, of course, poses a huge risk to other motorists who are following the law. This worry is not founded, as the number of uninsured motorists is indeed on the rise in America as well as around the world. One recent nationwide survey found that more than 16% of American drivers are routinely driving without proper car insurance. The number of uninsured drivers in the United States is on the rise at an alarming rate. The Insurance Research Council estimates that the number could be increasing by as much as 10% per year while the economy continues to falter.

There is more at risk than not having your doctor bills and insurance claims paid by the at-fault party if you are hit by an uninsured motorist. Claims arising from those who are not following the law increase the costs for those who are. Someone has to ultimately pay for the cost of damages and medical care when the party at fault has no car insurance. Most of the time insurance companies find themselves footing the bill for these costs. While many may think that this is exactly the reason we purchase insurance, this is not why insurance exists. Eventually, the cost of bailing out uninsured motorists falls back on law abiding citizens. It is a similar trickle-down consequence where insurance companies eventually pass down their added costs because of increasing numbers of uninsured motorists to their customers in the form of more expensive car insurance premiums.

So, what can you do to protect yourself from uninsured motorists? Accidents are unavoidable over the long-term, and your likelihood of becoming involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist increases every year. You can protect yourself though. You should ensure that you have the proper liability coverage and uninsured motorist car insurance protection to keep you covered in the event of an accident. You may want to consider increasing your uninsured motorist coverage above your state’s mandated minimum amount. Often many states set their coverage at low levels, but you can add additional uninsured motorist coverage and liability coverage for a small increase to your annual car insurance premium.

Driving without insurance carries severe penalties in many circumstances. Depending on which state you currently reside in, you could face up to a $5,000 fine for driving without insurance coverage or even the possibility of a year in jail in states such as Massachusetts. While many people view dropping their car insurance as a way to cut costs when they are in dire financial hardships, it is often not the best course of action. The results can be disastrous if you have an accident where you are found to be at fault.