Auto insurance is required by law in Wyoming. It provides important protection in the case of an accident and helps pay for injuries and damages to other people involved, as well as damage to your vehicle. Auto insurance can also help protect against severe losses if you are found liable in a lawsuit after a traffic accident occurs.
The minimum coverage required in Wyoming is 25/50/15 which means you will be covered for at least $25,000 in bodily injury protection per person in an accident, $50,000 total for bodily injury if multiple people are injured and $15,000 of property damage coverage. Drivers who get into accidents that result in injuries may be sued by the victims for significant compensation. If you are found liable in a traffic accident, your insurance policy will help pay for the medical expenses and other damages the victims have incurred.
If someone is injured or killed in an accident that is your fault, your insurance company will pay out to cover any resulting damage. Your vehicle may also be impounded if it is involved in an accident. Many people misunderstand that if they are not at fault in an accident, their insurance company will pay for all damages regardless of who was responsible. However, this is not true. Even if you were driving responsibly and accurately, you could be liable for the damage due to your policy’s uninsured/underinsured coverage.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the average cost of auto insurance in Wyoming was $1,117 per year as of 2011. If you’re comparing car insurance quotes, ensure your prospective insurer includes uninsured or underinsured coverage. This will let you protect yourself from costs arising from an accident that is not your fault. Auto insurance companies often provide uninsured/underinsured coverage as part of their basic policy or as an optional extension. This coverage will pay for your medical expenses after accidents where the other driver was underinsured or not insured.
The state legislature requires citizens to have auto insurance in some form, but there are no laws against driving uninsured or “underinsured.” This means that it is possible for a motorist to have an accident with a driver who carries only the minimum required insurance, and would leave you responsible for paying medical expenses and repairs to your vehicle out of your own pocket.
In fact, this does happen frequently in Wyoming, as well as other states where there are no requirements for carrying insurance. If the other driver was at fault in an accident, he or she (or their insurer) is legally responsible for paying for property damage and medical expenses that you incur. However, your insurance company will pay out of pocket if they are underinsured or not insured at all.
If you get injured in an accident with an at-fault driver who does not carry any insurance, you can use them directly to recover compensation for your medical bills and other losses. If a court finds the at-fault motorist was 50% or more responsible for the accident, they cannot claim contributory negligence as a defence.
You may also be able to file a claim against the other motorist’s property damage liability coverage if they do carry insurance. Since the policy does not pay for your medical expenses or lost wages, you will want to recover through their property damage coverages rather than sue them – unless you are more badly hurt in which case suing might be a feasible option.
Having uninsured/underinsured coverage may help you recoup costs after an accident with a driver without insurance or who is underinsured. This will only be useful if the other party was at fault and did not carry enough coverage to compensate for your losses. On the other hand, if he or she carries no insurance at all, you can recover from your own uninsured/underinsured policy.
In some states, a motorist can be cited for driving uninsured if they have received two or more tickets for driving without insurance within the designated timeframe. In Wyoming, this is not considered a primary offense and motorists cannot be pulled over just to check that they carry sufficient coverage. However, law enforcement officers will usually stop vehicles that violate traffic safety laws, and the driver will be ticketed for all offences at that time.
The Wyoming DMV can also suspend a license if an individual does not provide proof of insurance when they renew their tags each year, or if they allow their coverage to lapse completely while carrying a license. This is considered an administrative offence by the state police, and a driver can face a fine of double the amount they would have paid to renew their tags. For example, if you were supposed to provide proof of insurance when you renewed your tags in 2010 but did not, you may be charged $624 for the next renewal period – doubling the standard fee.
Drivers who get caught driving without insurance can incur up to $990 in fines. This is why ensuring you have uninsured/underinsured coverage on your policy is a good idea, especially if you do not need medical payment coverage.
The state legislature requires citizens to have auto insurance in some form, but there are no laws against driving uninsured or “underinsured.” This means that it is possible for a motorist to have an accident with a driver who carries only the minimum required insurance, and would leave you responsible for paying medical expenses and repairs to your vehicle out of your own pocket.
In fact, this does happen frequently in Wyoming, as well as other states where there are no requirements for carrying insurance. If the other driver was at fault in an accident, he or she (or their insurer) is legally responsible for paying for property damage and medical expenses that you incur. However, your insurance company will pay out of pocket if they are underinsured or not insured at all.
You may also be able to file a claim against the other motorist’s property damage liability coverage if they do carry insurance. Since the policy does not pay for your medical expenses or lost wages, you will want to recover through their property damage coverages rather than sue them – unless you are more badly hurt in which case suing might be a feasible option.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, you should have a good idea of what to expect from different Wyoming car insurance companies. You can compare quotes and find the company that best suits your needs. Whether you need full coverage or something more basic, there are plenty of options for drivers in all stages of their lives here in WY!
