A dust event on the interstate does not produce one collision, it produces a chain of them. Liability in a pileup is apportioned rather than assigned, and the process is unlike any ordinary claim.
In a multi-vehicle collision, fault is divided. Your own cover is what moves while that is being worked out.
Three things about a collision with many participants.
Arizona apportions responsibility among parties rather than assigning it to one. In a chain reaction every driver may carry a share, including you, and your recovery is reduced accordingly. A driver who was entirely blameless in their own account can still end up bearing part of the loss.
With many vehicles, many insurers and sometimes litigation, apportionment is slow. Meanwhile the car needs repairing and bills arrive. Your own collision cover and medical payments operate immediately and recover afterwards, which is the practical reason to carry both.
When liability is spread across drivers whose limits are modest, the total available can fall well short of the total damage. Underinsured motorist cover is what fills that, and it is exactly the scenario it exists for.
Cover that moves before fault is settled.
It repairs the car now rather than in eighteen months.
Pays bills regardless of fault while apportionment runs.
Several small policies can still add up to not enough.
Send your current limits including medical payments and underinsured motorist.
