Your Own Car Insurance Can Be Your Best Protection: Why Every NJ Driver Needs Strong UM/UIM Coverage
Fountain pen icon. Black outline on white background.

Greg Heizler

Gregory S. Heizler, Esq. is a personal injury and civil litigation attorney with over 25 years of trial experience representing clients across Ocean County, Monmouth County, and statewide New Jersey. Greg is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, and serves as Co-Chair of the Ocean County Bar Association Civil Practice Committee. 

Most drivers think car insurance is about protecting others — but in New Jersey, one of the smartest things you can do to protect yourself is to review your Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

Every week, we meet people who were seriously hurt in crashes caused by someone else — only to discover that the at-fault driver had no insurance or bare minimum coverage. In New Jersey, that could mean as little as $25,000, which often doesn’t come close to covering medical bills, lost wages, or long-term pain and suffering.


That’s where UM/UIM coverage steps in. It’s your safety net — insurance you buy for yourself, built into your own policy, that protects you when the other driver can’t.


Here’s why it matters:

  • 1 in 8 drivers in New Jersey is uninsured.
  • Many others carry the state minimum — leaving you exposed.
  • UM/UIM coverage allows your insurance company to step in and pay what the at-fault driver can’t.
  • It can cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, and economic losses that go far beyond PIP benefits.


Real-life example:
Our firm recently represented a client who suffered spinal injuries in a crash caused by an underinsured driver. The at-fault driver’s policy maxed out quickly, but because our client had strong UM/UIM coverage, we were able to pursue their own insurer for additional compensation — without raising their premiums.


Bottom line:
If you haven’t reviewed your car insurance policy lately, now is the time. Look for “Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage” and make sure your limits match your liability coverage — ideally $250,000 or more.


You can’t control who hits you. But you can control how well you’re protected when they do. That’s why we created a guide: to help you make smart, informed insurance decisions that safeguard your health, finances, and legal rights. 

 

Call Today (732) 481-9100 for a Free Consultation with John Mennie or Greg Heizler at our office in Ocean Township or Toms River.

When you hire Mennie Heizler Law Group, you’re not just hiring a law firm—you’re gaining a team that treats you like family.