What Happens if a Driver’s Insurance Policy Is Not Enough to Cover My Injuries?

 Posted on August 31, 2026 in Car Accidents

If you’re injured in an automobile accident, you may be awarded damages from the other driver’s insurance to cover the cost of your injuries. How much that insurance can pay out is sometimes limited by the other driver’s insurance policy, though. When you’re dealing with medical bills and other costs such as lost wages, this limit can come as a real blow.

There may be other options for you to explore if this is the case in your 2026 accident. An Anne Arundel County, MD car accident lawyer can help you figure out where further compensation might come from.

How Much Insurance Coverage Is a Maryland Driver Required to Carry?

Maryland law sets a minimum amount of liability coverage for every driver. Under Transportation Article Section 17-103, drivers need at least $30,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person. For accidents involving two or more people, they need up to $60,000. There is also a required $15,000 in property damage coverage.

For many minor accidents, this may be plenty. For serious injuries, it may not be enough. Surgery, physical therapy, and time off work add up fast. A single hospital stay alone can cost more than $30,000 for severe injuries.

Can My Own Policy Help Compensate Me After a Maryland Car Accident?

Once the at-fault driver’s insurance pays out its policy limit, the company doesn’t owe you anything more. It is possible that your own policy may help make up the difference between what they paid you and what you’re owed, though.

Maryland requires insurers to offer underinsured motorist coverage, which fills in when another driver’s insurance isn’t enough.

Underinsured motorist coverage can generally help pay for:

• Medical expenses beyond the at-fault driver’s policy limit

• Lost wages while you recover

• Pain and suffering

• Some property damage costs, depending on your policy

Personal injury protection, sometimes called PIP or MedPay, is another coverage type worth checking. Maryland requires insurers to offer at least $2,500 in this coverage unless you’ve rejected it in writing. It can help pay initial medical bills and some lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, and it typically pays out faster than a liability claim.

While insurers are required to offer underinsured coverage, you aren’t required to accept it. Check your policy to see what kind of coverage you have.

What If an At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance at All in Maryland?

If the at-fault driver has no insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may apply instead. It works much the same way as underinsured coverage.

If both the at-fault driver’s policy and your own coverage are not enough to cover your damages, you may be able to go after the at-fault driver personally for the rest. Whether this is worth the time and expense depends on how much money you are still owed and whether the other driver has the assets to pay.

Keep in mind that Maryland also follows a strict contributory negligence rule. If you are found even 1% at fault for the crash, you cannot collect any money from the other driver. An attorney can review your case to determine if taking legal action is worth pursuing.

What Should You Do If You Think the Other Driver's Coverage Won’t Be Enough?

Find out what kind of coverage you have as soon as you think the other driver’s policy won’t be enough. Ask your insurance company for your policy’s coverage summary page (sometimes called a declarations page). This simple document lists all your coverage limits in one place. Keep track of your medical treatment and any time you miss from work, as well as any drop in quality of life you experience. This kind of documentation matters no matter which policy ends up paying.

Call a Severn, MD Car Accident Lawyer Today

Learning that insurance won’t cover the full cost of your injuries is frustrating, but you still have options. Our Anne Arundel County, MD personal injury attorney can help you sort through them. We answer calls 24/7 and handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win for you.

As a sole practitioner with more than a decade of experience, Attorney Andrew Serafini gives every case his personal attention. He’s supportive of clients and aggressive with insurance companies that try to undervalue a claim. A Hagerstown local, he remains very active in the local community.

Call Serafini Law at 240-744-1600 today for a free consultation.