Pulled Over After Drinking? Skip the Roadside Tests and Know Your Options
August 11, 2026Nobody loves shopping for car insurance. Most people just grab the state minimum, sign the paperwork, and forget about it — until they get hit by someone who barely has any coverage at all. That’s where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage come in, and honestly, they’re two of the most underrated add-ons you can have.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Your Backup Plan
This covers you if the person who hits you has zero insurance, or if they take off before you even get a plate number. Without it, you’re stuck trying to sue someone who probably doesn’t have the money to pay you anyway.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: The One Nobody Tells You About
Here’s the thing — as of July 1, 2025, Massachusetts raised its minimum required bodily injury liability coverage from $20,000 to $25,000 per person ($50,000 per accident). That’s an improvement, but it still doesn’t go far in a serious crash — one surgery or a few months out of work can burn through $25,000 fast. If the other driver’s policy runs out before your bills do, underinsured motorist coverage picks up the rest, up to your own limit.
Why the State Minimum Still Isn’t Enough
- Even at the new $25,000 minimum, that barely covers an ER visit, let alone surgery or physical therapy.
- A lot of drivers on the road carry only the bare minimum, or nothing at all.
- You can’t add coverage after the crash already happened — it has to be in place first.
The Good News
Bumping up these limits is usually cheap compared to what it protects you from. We recommend $250,000/$500,000 in coverage through a reputable insurer — enough to actually protect your family if a serious crash happens. Ask your agent to match your UM/UIM limits to your liability limits, and look into an umbrella policy while you’re at it.
Already Hurt by an Uninsured Driver?
Don’t assume you’re out of luck — and don’t assume your own insurance company will just hand over what you’re owed.
Call Aloise and Wilcox, P.C. at 508-755-8118 for a free consultation.