Horn Law warns Missouri drivers on uninsured motorist coverage

Kansas City attorney Doug Horn is urging Missouri drivers to review uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as crash risks rise on roads with more distraction, speed and uninsured drivers. Horn says the gap between what an injured driver needs and what the at-fault driver carries can leave families exposed after a serious wreck.

Why it matters: - Missouri drivers face a higher chance that the other driver has no insurance or not enough coverage after a crash. - Serious injuries can trigger immediate costs for medical care, lost income and vehicle damage. - A driver’s own policy may be the difference between full recovery and a large uninsured loss.

What happened: - Doug Horn, founder of Horn Law and a Missouri motor vehicle accident attorney, warned that Missouri roads are becoming more dangerous because of distraction, speeding, red-light running and impatience. - Horn said drivers need to stay alert to bad driving and prepare for risks they cannot control. - Horn urged Missourians to review their uninsured and underinsured motorist limits with an insurance agent before a crash happens. - Horn said families with teenage drivers should also understand how their policy would respond if a teen is hurt by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

The details: - Nationally, the Insurance Research Council said the uninsured motorist rate rose from 11.6% in 2019 to 15.4% in 2023. - The same research found that 1 in 3 drivers nationwide was either uninsured or underinsured in 2023. - The Insurance Information Institute put Missouri’s uninsured motorist rate at 20.7% in 2023, above the national average. - Uninsured motorist coverage helps when the at-fault driver has no insurance. - Underinsured motorist coverage helps when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover the full crash cost. - Horn said some drivers can decline or reduce this coverage in writing in many states, leaving them with less protection than they may expect. - Horn said serious crashes can quickly create emergency care bills, ongoing treatment costs, lost wages and repair expenses. - Horn said injured drivers may be left without enough available insurance if the at-fault driver carries no coverage or only the minimum required by law.

Between the lines: - The advisory is about more than safer driving habits. It is also about closing a financial gap that only becomes visible after a crash. - Horn’s warning reflects a broader shift: a driver can do everything right on the road and still face major losses if the other motorist is uninsured. - The message to parents is practical. Teen drivers face risks they cannot control, so coverage matters as much as instruction.

What's next: - Horn is encouraging drivers to ask questions about their coverage before they need answers. - Missouri motorists should check whether current uninsured and underinsured motorist limits would hold up after a serious accident. - Families with teenage drivers should review how their policy would respond if a teen were injured by an uninsured driver.

The bottom line: - Missouri drivers cannot control who hits them, but they can control whether their own insurance is ready for a serious crash.