Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Missouri: The Current Law 

Under Missouri law, underinsured motorist coverage is not mandated by statute. So, it might be that you paid for “full coverage”, but you do not have this coverage in effect within your own policy(ies).  Unlike uninsured motorist coverage, which is required in all automobile insurance policies in the state, underinsured motorist coverage is optional in Missouri.

If you have underinsured motorist coverage, it is governed by the terms of the insurance contract between the insured and the insurer. The existence and specifics of underinsured motorist coverage, including whether it can be “stacked” with other coverages, are determined by the terms insurance policy itself.

Be careful taking your insurance company’s word for it as to whether your policy offers you coverage.  It is common for them to read your policy’s language in such a way that they deny coverage.  It might be that an experienced injury attorney could make a winning argument that the policy’s language does extend coverage in those situations.  Ambiguity in your policy’s language will most often be construed in favor of a find that insurance coverage does apply.  So, if you think there is any chance you should be extended coverage, let an experienced Missouri attorney review your policy’s language.

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