Uninsured Motorist Accidents in Raleigh, NC

Q: What percentage of drivers in Wake County are uninsured?

North Carolina estimates that approximately 7-9% of drivers statewide lack auto insurance, and Wake County's rate is broadly consistent with this average. However, the percentage varies significantly by corridor. Areas along South Saunders Street, Rock Quarry Road, and parts of Capital Boulevard north of I-540 tend to have higher concentrations of uninsured drivers. After a crash with an uninsured driver, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage becomes your primary path to compensation.

Q: What is UM coverage and do I have it on my Raleigh auto policy?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries and damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or cannot be identified (hit and run). NC law requires every auto insurance company to offer UM coverage, and most NC drivers have it unless they specifically rejected it in writing by signing a waiver form. Check your declarations page or call your insurer to confirm. As of 2025, minimum UM limits are $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury.

Q: What is the difference between UM and UIM coverage in North Carolina?

UM (uninsured motorist) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, or in hit and run situations. UIM (underinsured motorist) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are not enough to cover your damages. For example, if the at-fault driver has the NC minimum of $50,000 but your medical bills and damages total $150,000, your UIM coverage can make up the difference up to your policy limits.

Q: Does filing a UM claim raise my insurance rates in North Carolina?

No. Under NC law, filing a UM or UIM claim against your own insurance policy does not count as an at-fault accident and should not trigger a rate increase. Your UM coverage exists to protect you when someone else causes the crash. However, if your insurer does raise your rates after a UM claim, you can contest this with the NC Department of Insurance.

Q: What if the uninsured driver in Raleigh has no assets to pay my claim?

This is the most common situation. Drivers who lack insurance typically also lack assets. If you file a lawsuit and win a judgment against them, you may not be able to collect on it because there is nothing to collect. This is precisely why UM coverage on your own policy is so important. Your UM policy pays your claim regardless of the at-fault driver's financial situation. Without UM coverage, you may be left with no practical path to compensation.

Q: Can I stack UM coverage from multiple vehicles on my Raleigh policy?

NC law does allow stacking of UM coverage in some situations. If you have multiple vehicles on your policy, each with UM coverage, you may be able to combine (stack) those limits. For example, if you have two vehicles each with $100,000 in UM coverage, stacking could give you $200,000 in available coverage. However, many NC policies include anti-stacking clauses. Review your specific policy language or consult an attorney to determine whether stacking applies to your situation.

Raleigh uninsured motorist guide: Wake County uninsured rates, Capital Blvd and South Saunders corridors, UM/UIM coverage, 2025 minimums, and how to protect yourself.

Published April 10, 2026| Updated April 10, 2026| 10 min read

The Bottom Line

Getting hit by an uninsured driver in Raleigh is more common than most people realize. If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is your primary -- and often only -- path to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. NC requires insurers to offer UM coverage on every auto policy, and most drivers have it unless they signed a written waiver. On corridors like Capital Boulevard, South Saunders Street, and Rock Quarry Road, the chances of encountering an uninsured driver are higher than the statewide average.

The Uninsured Driver Problem in Raleigh

North Carolina estimates that roughly 7-9% of drivers statewide operate without auto insurance, despite the legal requirement. In Wake County, this translates to tens of thousands of uninsured vehicles on the road at any given time. When one of these drivers causes a crash, the victim faces a difficult reality: the at-fault driver has no policy to file a claim against, and they usually have no personal assets to pursue either.

For statewide information on uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, see our guide on UM/UIM coverage in North Carolina.

Where Uninsured Driver Crashes Happen in Raleigh

Uninsured drivers are not evenly distributed across Raleigh. Certain corridors and neighborhoods have higher concentrations of uninsured vehicles:

Capital Boulevard (US-1) from I-440 north through the Rock Quarry Road area -- this high-volume commercial corridor sees frequent crashes involving uninsured drivers
South Saunders Street south of downtown -- a corridor with heavy traffic and a mix of commercial and residential areas
Rock Quarry Road and Poole Road in southeast Raleigh
New Bern Avenue east of downtown toward WakeMed
Western Boulevard near NC State campus where student drivers sometimes lack adequate coverage

This does not mean you are safe from uninsured drivers on I-440 or in north Raleigh. Uninsured drivers use every road in Wake County. But the corridors above see a disproportionate number of these crashes.

How UM Coverage Works in North Carolina

The NC Requirement

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-279.21, every auto insurance policy issued in NC must include UM coverage unless the policyholder specifically rejects it in writing. This means most NC drivers have UM coverage, even if they do not realize it. Check your declarations page to confirm your coverage and limits.

What UM Coverage Pays

Your UM coverage steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver's missing insurance. It pays for:

Medical expenses -- emergency room visits at WakeMed, surgery, physical therapy, ongoing treatment
Lost wages -- income you miss while recovering from your injuries
Pain and suffering -- compensation for physical pain and diminished quality of life
Other damages -- everything you would normally recover from the at-fault driver's insurance

2025 Minimum UM Limits

As of 2025, the NC minimum coverage limits are $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury. If your UM limits match these minimums, you have $50,000 of coverage per person. For serious crashes on I-440 or I-40, this may be insufficient -- a WakeMed Level I Trauma Center visit with surgery can easily exceed $50,000 in medical bills alone.

N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-279.21

Requires NC auto insurance policies to include uninsured motorist coverage unless the policyholder rejects it in writing.

UM vs. UIM: Understanding the Difference

Uninsured Motorist (UM)

UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, or when the at-fault driver cannot be identified (a hit and run). Your UM coverage is the only source of compensation in these situations.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM)

UIM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are too low to cover your damages. This is extremely common in Raleigh. A driver carrying NC's minimum $50,000 in bodily injury coverage who causes a crash resulting in $200,000 in medical bills and lost wages does not have enough coverage. Your UIM policy fills the gap up to your own UIM limits.

Why UIM Matters in Raleigh

Many NC drivers carry the state minimum coverage. If one of these drivers causes a serious crash on the I-440 beltline or I-40 corridor, their $50,000 limit may cover only a fraction of your damages. Without UIM coverage, you are left absorbing the difference.

Filing a UM/UIM Claim in Raleigh

Step 1: Report the Crash to Raleigh PD

File a police report with the Raleigh Police Department by calling (919) 996-3335 or 911 for emergencies. The crash report documents that the at-fault driver was uninsured, which is essential for your UM claim. Obtain the report from 6716 Six Forks Road (approximately $6.25, available in 7-10 business days).

Step 2: Notify Your Own Insurer

Contact your insurance company promptly and report that the at-fault driver was uninsured. Open a UM claim. Most policies require you to notify your insurer within a "reasonable" time -- do not wait weeks.

Step 3: Document Your Damages

Your UM insurer will evaluate your claim just like a third-party insurer would. You need:

The Raleigh PD crash report
Medical records and bills from WakeMed, UNC REX, Duke Raleigh, or your treating providers
Proof of lost wages
Photos of the scene and vehicle damage
Witness statements

Step 4: Negotiate or Litigate

Your UM insurer will make an offer. If the offer is inadequate, you can negotiate. If negotiations fail, you can file a lawsuit against your own insurer for the UM benefits -- but this claim would go through Wake County courts at 316 Fayetteville Street (10th Judicial District), and the same rules of evidence and procedure apply as any other civil case.

Contributory Negligence in UM Claims

NC's contributory negligence rule applies to UM claims just as it applies to third-party claims. Your own insurance company can argue that you were partially at fault for the crash and deny your UM claim entirely. This is an uncomfortable reality: you are filing a claim against your own insurer, and they may use the same defense tactics that the other driver's insurer would have used.

Evidence preservation is critical. Dashcam footage, witness statements, and thorough documentation of the crash scene help establish that the uninsured driver was solely at fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of drivers in Wake County are uninsured?

What is UM coverage and do I have it on my Raleigh auto policy?

What is the difference between UM and UIM coverage in North Carolina?

Does filing a UM claim raise my insurance rates in North Carolina?

What if the uninsured driver in Raleigh has no assets to pay my claim?

Can I stack UM coverage from multiple vehicles on my Raleigh policy?