--- title: "Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois: What Happens When the Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance?" description: Learn how underinsured motorist coverage works in Illinois. Palermo Law Group helps car accident victims in Oak Brook and DuPage County. image: https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Suburban%20Street%20Car%20Accident%20With%20Caution%20Tape.png --- Talk to an attorney now - [630-684-2332](tel:630-684-2332) | **Video Conferencing Available** [![PLG\_logo45-white-1](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/PLG_logo45-white-1.webp)](https://palermolawgroup.com/) - [About](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/about-us/) - [About Us](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/about-us/) - [Frequently Asked Personal Injury Questions](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/faq-personal-injury-questions/) - [Se Habla Español](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/about-us#espanol) - Accident & Injury Law + - [Personal Injury](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/personal-injury-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Car Accidents](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/car-accident-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Construction Accidents](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/construction-accident-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Dog Bites & Attacks](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/dog-bite-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Medical Malpractice](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/medical-malpractice-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Nursing Home Abuse & Negligence](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/nursing-home-abuse-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Premises Liability](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/premises-liability-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Truck Accidents](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/truck-accident-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Workers’ Compensation](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/workers-compensation-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Wrongful Death](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/wrongful-death-lawyer-oak-brook/) - [Blog](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog) - [No Fee Guarantee](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/about-us#no-fee) - [Contact](https://palermolawgroup.com/contact/) - [Free Legal Consultation & Case Evaluation](https://palermolawgroup.com/free-consultation/) # Blog [![](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Suburban%20Street%20Car%20Accident%20With%20Caution%20Tape.png)](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Suburban%20Street%20Car%20Accident%20With%20Caution%20Tape.png) ## [Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois: What Happens When the Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance?](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/underinsured-motorist-coverage-in-illinois-what-happens-when-the-other-driver-doesnt-have-enough-insurance) - October 21, 2026 - [MARIO PALERMO](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/author/mario-palermo) - [No Comments](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/underinsured-motorist-coverage-in-illinois-what-happens-when-the-other-driver-doesnt-have-enough-insurance#comments-listing) - [Personal Injury Law](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/tag/personal-injury-law), [Car Accidents](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/tag/car-accidents)   # Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois: What Happens When the Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance? You can do everything right on the road and still find yourself dealing with the consequences of someone else's mistake. And unfortunately, the driver who causes your accident may not have nearly enough insurance to cover your injuries. This is something we see in personal injury cases, and it's one of the reasons we tell people to take a closer look at their auto insurance policies before they ever need them. At Palermo Law Group, we help accident victims throughout Oak Brook, DuPage County, and the surrounding Chicago suburbs understand their rights and identify the insurance coverage available to them. One of the most important protections you can have is **underinsured motorist coverage.** ## What Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage? Underinsured motorist coverage, often called UIM coverage, is designed to protect you when another driver causes an accident but doesn't carry enough bodily injury liability insurance to fully compensate you for your injuries. In Illinois, drivers are only required to carry $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. Think about that for a moment. A serious car accident can result in an emergency room visit, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and weeks or months away from work. That $25,000 may not even cover your initial medical bills. That's where your own underinsured motorist coverage may come into play. ## How Does Underinsured Motorist Coverage Work in Illinois? Let's look at an example. You're injured in an accident in DuPage County, and the driver who caused the crash has the Illinois minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage. Your medical bills already exceed that amount. Fortunately, your own auto insurance policy includes $250,000 in underinsured motorist coverage. In this situation, you may have access to: - **$25,000** from the at fault driver's liability insurance. - **Up to $225,000** in additional coverage through your own underinsured motorist policy. - **$250,000** in combined potential bodily injury coverage. That additional $225,000 isn't guaranteed compensation. Your recovery depends on the circumstances of the accident, your damages, the applicable policies, and other legal considerations. But the difference between having that coverage and not having it can be substantial. ## Why $250,000 in Insurance Might Not Be Enough After a Serious Accident Now imagine a more serious accident. You're hospitalized for two weeks. Your medical bills exceed $200,000. You're unable to return to work, and your injuries may affect your ability to earn a living for years to come. Suddenly, even $250,000 in insurance coverage doesn't seem like much. And remember, compensation in a personal injury case isn't limited to medical expenses. Depending on the circumstances, you may also be entitled to recover damages for: - Lost wages and reduced earning capacity - Future medical treatment and rehabilitation - Pain and suffering - Permanent disability or impairment - Other accident-related losses If your damages exceed the available insurance coverage, recovering fair compensation can become significantly more complicated. That's why understanding your policy limits before an accident is so important. ## Is Underinsured Motorist Coverage Required in Illinois? Illinois requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is different. Under Illinois law, underinsured motorist coverage is required when you purchase uninsured motorist bodily injury limits above the state's minimum requirements. Your coverage limits matter because they determine how much additional protection may be available if you're seriously injured by a driver with insufficient insurance. At Palermo Law Group, we recommend carrying as much underinsured motorist coverage as you reasonably can. You cannot control how much insurance another driver purchases. But you can make decisions about your own coverage that may protect you and your family in the future. ## Why You Should Speak With a DuPage County Personal Injury Attorney After an Accident One of the biggest mistakes people make after an accident is assuming that the at fault driver's insurance policy is the only available source of compensation. That isn't necessarily true. There may be coverage through the vehicle owner, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy, or other applicable insurance policies. Identifying those sources of coverage is an important part of handling a personal injury claim. An experienced **DuPage County personal injury attorney** can investigate the accident, review applicable insurance policies, evaluate your damages, and determine what avenues of recovery may be available. There are also specific procedures and obligations involved in making an underinsured motorist claim. Failing to follow applicable policy requirements could create problems with your coverage. At Palermo Law Group, we don't simply look at the first insurance policy and assume that's the end of the case. We investigate the available coverage, develop the case, and prepare to pursue the compensation our clients are legally entitled to recover. > ### FAQ > > ### Can I use my own insurance if the other driver caused the accident? > > Yes. If you have applicable underinsured motorist coverage and the at fault driver's liability limits are lower than your UIM limits, you may be able to pursue additional compensation through your own insurance policy. > > ### What if the other driver has no insurance at all? > > That is generally where uninsured motorist coverage comes into play. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage serve different purposes, although both are designed to protect you when the other driver's insurance is inadequate or nonexistent. > > ### Will filing an underinsured motorist claim automatically get me my policy limits? > > No. Your insurance company will evaluate the claim, including liability, damages, policy terms, and applicable coverage. Having a $250,000 policy does not automatically mean you will receive $250,000. > > ### Should I hire a personal injury attorney for an underinsured motorist claim? > > If you've suffered significant injuries, speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand the available coverage, the value of your claim, and the steps necessary to protect your rights. Call Palermo Law Group for a [free case evaluation.](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/contact)  We’ll review your medical records, explain your rights, and help you understand the value of your claim. - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://palermolawgroup.com/does-homeowner-insurance-cover-dog-bites-illinois/&t=Does%20Homeowner%20Insurance%20Cover%20Dog%20Bites%20in%20Illinois) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/home?status=Does%20Homeowner%20Insurance%20Cover%20Dog%20Bites%20in%20Illinois?%20https://palermolawgroup.com/does-homeowner-insurance-cover-dog-bites-illinois/) - [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://palermolawgroup.com/does-homeowner-insurance-cover-dog-bites-illinois/&title=Does%20Homeowner%20Insurance%20Cover%20Dog%20Bites%20in%20Illinois) [![MARIO PALERMO](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/mario-profile.jpg)](https://palermolawgroup.com/author/palermolawgroup/) #### About The MARIO PALERMO Mario Palermo is the Founder and Lead Attorney at Palermo Law Group in Oak Brook, Illinois. For over 30 years, he has worked tirelessly to help injury victims and their families in their times of need. He is a seasoned authority on civil litigation, and also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious group of trial lawyers who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Mr. Palermo has been named a “Leading Lawyer” by his peers in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. ### Request a Free Legal Consultation ### Recently Published ## Recent Outcomes ### $1.3 Million Mr. Palermo obtained $1.3 million dollars for an airline employee who was injured on the job. ### $800,000 Palermo obtained $800,000 for the family of 63-year-old woman who died after gallbladder removal surgery. ### $400,000 Palermo obtained $400,000 for a 28-year-old woman from Aurora that was the victim of a hit-and-run. ![PLG-vert-300](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/PLG-vert-300.webp) ### PALERMO LAW GROUP 1415 W. 22nd Street Tower Floor Oak Brook, IL 60523 [630-684-2332](https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/630-684-2332) [mario@palermolawgroup.com](mailto:mario@palermolawgroup.com) ### Helpful Links - [Personal Injury Lawyer](https://palermolawgroup.com/personal-injury-lawyer-chicago/) - [Personal Injury FAQs](https://palermolawgroup.com/faq-personal-injury-questions/) - [Car Accident Lawyer](https://palermolawgroup.com/car-accident-lawyer/) - [Testimonials](https://palermolawgroup.com/testimonials/) - [Se Habla Español](https://palermolawgroup.com/se-habla-espanol/) ### CONNECT WITH US - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/PalermoLawGroup/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mariopalermolawgroup/) © 2026 | Palermo Law Group - All Rights Reserved.  ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "MARIO PALERMO", "url" : "https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/author/mario-palermo" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-21T15:47:16.841Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-21T15:47:16.000Z", "headline" : "Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois: What Happens When the Other Driver Doesn't Have Enough Insurance?", "image" : [ "https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Suburban%20Street%20Car%20Accident%20With%20Caution%20Tape.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog/underinsured-motorist-coverage-in-illinois-what-happens-when-the-other-driver-doesnt-have-enough-insurance", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.palermolawgroup.com/hubfs/PLG-logo-90.gif" }, "name" : "Palermo Law Group" } } ```