Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas TRMOK AR Sept_web | Page 12

FEATURES ONE OUT OF FOUR ARE UNINSURED MOTORISTS BY: TANNER BUFFINGTON, SHELTER INSURANCE AGENT I have always been a fan of statistics. For instance 58% of kids say pizza is their favorite food (its mine too) and there are twice as many billionaires in the U.S. today as there were 10 years ago (so you’re telling me there’s still a chance!). There are some stats though that scare me more than they entertain me. They include the numbers 26 and 16. Oklahoma leads the country in uninsured motorists at a whopping 26%! Think about that… that means you have a 1 in 4 chance that the other driver will be uninsured. Arkansas ranks a little better, but certainly nothing worth hanging We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. ® AUTO • HOME • LIFE Tanner Buffington 405 S Main St Stillwater, OK 74074 405-743-4481 [email protected] 12 Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR on mom’s fridge. They come in at 11th place with 16% uninsured motorists. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like those stats. These numbers may be interesting or you may be wondering why you’ve wasted time reading two paragraphs already, but they are important to know. Let’s think about how much of an impact they can have on us. You just dropped a pretty penny getting your prized motorcycle out of the shop. She is looking good and riding smooth. So what happens when the driver who hit you isn’t insured? Or, what if they just take off? Are you covered? Most people think they’re covered if they have “full coverage”(comprehensive and collision). This is not the case though. You need to take a look at your motorcycle policy and make sure you have uninsured motorist coverage (UM). UM is an optional coverage that protects you from the 1 in 4 out there that are driving illegally. There are two types of UM that can be purchased to make sure you are taken care of the next time something happens. UMBI covers bodily injury and other related expenses. UMPD covers the property damage caused by that uninsured motorist. Overall, UM coverage is fairly inexpensive to add to your policies and could make a huge impact on getting you back on the road after an accident. So remember, although only 30% of adults actually have dandruff, nearly as many are driving down the road without insurance. Just like you protect yourself with the right safety gear, make sure you have protected yourself with UM insurance. If I can clarify any other information regarding UM insurance or any other lines of insurance, please feel free to call me at 405- 743-4481. Or if you’d just like to talk statistics, I’m good with that too. Stay safe out there.