What Is UM and SUM Coverage?
Are you wondering: “What is UM and SUM Coverage?”
You’ve come to the right place.
Getting what insurance coverage you need when purchasing car insurance can be confusing, especially when policies include unfamiliar terms.
If you or a family member is injured in a car accident involving uninsured motorists or drivers with inadequate coverage, UM and SUM coverage can make a critical difference in your financial recovery.
At Greenstein & Pittari, LLP, our personal injury attorneys regularly help clients understand UM and SUM coverage.
Understanding UM Insurance Coverage
UM coverage, or Uninsured Motorist coverage, is a part of your motor vehicle insurance policy that protects you if you are injured by an uninsured motor vehicle.
In simple terms, this coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no liability coverage at all.
A vehicle may be uninsured for several reasons, including:
- The other driver’s insurance policy was canceled before the accident
- The vehicle was stolen
- The crash involved a hit-and-run driver who was never identified
According to insurance and labor statistics, a significant percentage of drivers operate vehicles without valid car insurance.
In New York, estimates suggest that up to 15% of motorists may be uninsured at any given time.
Without UM coverage, you may be forced to rely solely on your own health insurance or pursue legal action against an uninsured driver who likely has no assets to recover damages from.
What Is SUM Coverage?
SUM coverage stands for Supplemental Uninsured Motorist coverage, which applies when the at-fault driver does carry insurance, but not enough liability limits to fully compensate you for your injuries.
For example, if you suffer serious injuries in a motorcycle or a car accident and the responsible driver only carries the minimum liability coverage, your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering may far exceed the available policy limits.
Your own SUM coverage will provide additional coverage to supplement your recovery from the underinsured vehicle.
While you could attempt to go after the assets of the responsible driver and owner, this is a long process and quite often does not result in an additional recovery.
Rather than have your recovery limited to the insurance coverage of the offending car, which could be a minimum policy, you can protect you and your family members by purchasing adequate SUM coverage.
For example, if you suffer serious injuries in a truck accident and the responsible driver only carries the minimum liability coverage, your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering may far exceed the available policy limits.
In this situation, supplementary uninsured underinsured motorist coverage allows you to seek additional compensation through your own insurance company, rather than being limited to the other driver’s insufficient policy.
The insurance premium to increase your UM and SUM coverage is not significant! In fact, in New York, there is now a requirement that the UM and SUM portion of your policy (which protects you) must equal your liability coverage (which protects others), unless you choose to opt out.
Why Adequate SUM Coverage Matters
Your own insurance company provides SUM benefits to supplement the recovery available from the underinsured vehicle. While it may be possible to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver personally, these cases often do not result in meaningful recovery.
By carrying adequate SUM coverage, you protect yourself and your family (including senior members) from having your compensation capped by someone else’s minimal automobile insurance policy.
Importantly, New York law now requires that UM and SUM coverage match your bodily injury liability coverage, unless you specifically opt out in writing.
Liability Coverage vs. UM and SUM Coverage
Many drivers assume liability coverage protects them in every situation. In reality, it protects others when you’re at fault, while UM and SUM coverage protect you when the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
| Coverage Type | Who It Protects | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Liability Coverage | Other people (drivers, passengers, pedestrians) if you cause the crash | You are at fault and your policy pays up to your liability limits |
| UM Coverage (Uninsured Motorist) | You and your household under your motor vehicle insurance policy | The at-fault driver has no car insurance (no liability coverage) or it’s a hit-and-run |
| SUM Coverage (Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist) | You and your household, through your own insurance company | The at-fault driver is insured but their liability coverage is too low, so your policy provides supplementary uninsured underinsured motorist coverage |
| Practical Takeaway |
If you carry higher liability coverage to protect others, consider matching it with UM and SUM coverage so your protection is just as strong. |
|
Tip: Review your automobile insurance policy and confirm your liability limits and UM/SUM limits align with your needs, especially if you commute often or drive in high-traffic areas.
If you carry high liability limits to protect others, it makes sense to carry equivalent protection for yourself through UM and SUM provisions in your car insurance policy.
Reviewing Your Auto Insurance Policy
We encourage all drivers to review their automobile insurance policy regularly.
Many policyholders are unaware of their actual motorist coverage limits or whether they have opted out of important protections.
The UM & SUM personal injury attorneys at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP are happy to review your policy to make sure you have adequate UM & SUM coverage.
If you or a loved one was the victim of a victim of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured motor vehicle, the UM & SUM personal injury attorneys at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP are here to help.
UM and SUM Claims After a Car Accident
If you are injured by uninsured motorists or underinsured drivers, filing a UM or SUM claim can be complex.
These claims are often adversarial and involve your own insurance company, which may dispute liability, damages, or policy interpretation.
Having experienced legal representation is essential to ensure that:
- All sum claims are properly filed
- Deadlines are met
- Your rights under your motor vehicle insurance policy are protected
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is UM and SUM Coverage?
UM and SUM Coverage refer to insurance protections within a motor vehicle insurance policy that cover you when you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
UM applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance, while SUM provides additional compensation when the other driver’s liability coverage is insufficient.
2. Is UM and SUM coverage required in New York?
Yes. New York requires insurers to offer UM and SUM coverage equal to your bodily injury liability limits unless you choose to opt out in writing.
This rule helps ensure drivers carry adequate protection for serious car accidents.
3. How does SUM coverage work after a car accident?
SUM coverage allows you to seek compensation through your own insurance company when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low to fully cover your injuries, medical bills, and lost income.
4. What is the difference between liability coverage and UM/SUM coverage?
Liability coverage protects others when you cause an accident, while UM and SUM coverage protect you and your family when the other driver is uninsured or underinsured.
5. Can I file a UM or SUM claim with my own insurance company?
Yes. UM and SUM claims are filed with your own insurance company, but these claims can still be contested.
Having an experienced car accident attorney can help ensure your claim is properly handled and fully valued.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney in NY
The car accident attorneys at Greenstein & Pittari, LLP are skilled at handling an UM & SUM claims.
Our firm’s motto is “Don’t Be A Victim Twice.”
If you are a victim of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured car, call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462) to schedule a confidential consultation. The call is free. The consultation is free.
You don’t pay us unless we are successful, as many of our clients know. That’s our “Our Fee Guarantee: No Fee Unless Successful!”