Underinsured motorist (“UIM”) coverage is one of the most misunderstood and undervalued protections in an auto insurance policy (especially when you consider how cheap it is). Many people purchase coverage without fully understanding how the coverage works and only discover its importance after a car crash reveals that the at-fault driver does not carry enough insurance.
In Kansas and Missouri, underinsured drivers are common. In fact, in both Kansas and Missouri, you are only required to purchase $25,000 of liability coverage. That means, if you’re struck by someone with $25,000 of coverage and are seriously injured, their insurance company will only pay you up to $25,000, even if you had a million dollars’ worth of injuries. Thus, when injuries are serious, minimum insurance limits are often exhausted quickly, leaving injured people wondering where to turn next. We typically have to explain to clients that if the driver who struck you has no assets or money in the bank, even if a jury awards them a million dollars, the at-fault party’s insurance may only cough up $25,000, and we’d have to go after the at-fault party for the rest (and then the at-fault party files bankruptcy). Understanding what underinsured motorist coverage really pays for in Kansas and Missouri can make a critical difference when the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient.
What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
For the above reason, UIM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has liability insurance, but that insurance is not enough to fully compensate you for your injuries. In those situations, your own insurance policy may step in to cover the gap, up to the limits you purchased. This coverage exists to protect responsible drivers from the financial consequences of other drivers’ inadequate insurance choices.
What Does UIM Coverage Actually Pay For?
In Kansas and Missouri, UIM coverage can compensate injured people for the same types of damages available in a standard injury claim. These include medical expenses, future medical care, rehabilitation, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, impairment, and loss of normal life.
UIM coverage is not limited to catastrophic injuries. It applies whenever the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient, regardless of how severe the injuries may appear at first glance.
Contact our Kansas city personal injury lawyers now.
Why Minimum Insurance Is Rarely Enough
As noted above, many drivers carry only the minimum liability insurance required by law ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident). Those limits are often consumed by emergency medical care alone. Ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, imaging, and follow-up care can quickly exhaust policy limits. Once those limits are paid, UIM coverage may be the only remaining source of recovery.
Why UIM Claims Are Often Disputed
Many people assume that because UIM coverage is their own policy, the insurance company will be cooperative. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. UIM claims are adversarial. Insurance companies frequently dispute whether treatment was necessary, whether injuries were caused by the crash, whether conditions were pre-existing, and how much pain and suffering is worth. These disputes require careful documentation and strategic presentation. In August 2025, we tried a case against State Farm for UIM benefits for a client. State Farm offered our client $5,000, but a Johnson County, Kansas jury returned a verdict for $665,000 for our client’s UIM benefits. If our client had not had UIM coverage, he would have been left with only $100,000 from the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Speak With Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers About UIM Coverage After a Crash in Kansas or Missouri
Underinsured motorist claims can be complex and contentious. At Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers, we help clients understand what underinsured motorist coverage really pays for in Kansas and Missouri and how to protect their rights. Contact us today to learn more.
