Uninsured Motorist Accidents in Winston-Salem, NC

Q: What percentage of Forsyth County drivers are uninsured?

North Carolina as a whole has an estimated uninsured driver rate of 7-9%, but rates in Forsyth County are notably higher in certain corridors. The East Winston area along New Walkertown Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and the Peters Creek Parkway corridor in south Winston-Salem, have some of the highest concentrations of uninsured motorist incidents in the county. These are also corridors with higher hit-and-run rates, as uninsured drivers are more likely to flee the scene.

Q: What is uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and do I have it?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries and damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance. In North Carolina, your insurance company is required to offer you UM coverage when you purchase or renew your auto policy. Most NC drivers have it unless they specifically rejected it in writing. Your UM limits must be at least equal to your liability limits -- so if you carry 50/100/50 liability, your UM coverage is at least 50/100 for bodily injury.

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

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their policy limits are not enough to cover your damages. For example, if you have $100,000 in medical bills and the at-fault driver only carries $50,000 in coverage, your UIM coverage can help bridge the gap up to your own UIM limits.

Q: Can my own insurance company deny my UM claim in Winston-Salem?

Yes. When you file a UM claim, you are making a claim against your own insurer, which creates an unusual dynamic. Your insurer is supposed to act in good faith, but they still want to minimize what they pay. They may argue contributory negligence, dispute injury severity, or challenge whether the uninsured driver was actually at fault. In North Carolina, if the insurer can show you were even 1% at fault, they can deny your UM claim entirely under the contributory negligence rule.

Q: Does filing a UM claim raise my insurance premiums?

No. Under North Carolina law, filing a UM or UIM claim cannot be used as a basis to raise your insurance premiums or cancel your policy. This is a common misconception that prevents many Winston-Salem drivers from using the coverage they are paying for. Your UM/UIM coverage exists specifically for situations where the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, and you should use it without fear of rate increases.

Winston-Salem uninsured motorist guide: Forsyth County uninsured rates, East Winston and Peters Creek corridors, UM/UIM claims, and NC coverage requirements.

Published April 10, 2026| Updated April 10, 2026| 9 min read

The Bottom Line

Forsyth County has a notable concentration of uninsured drivers, particularly along the East Winston corridors and the Peters Creek Parkway area. If you are hit by an uninsured driver in Winston-Salem, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is your primary path to compensation. NC law requires your insurer to offer UM coverage, and filing a UM claim does not raise your premiums. But your own insurance company can still argue contributory negligence to deny or reduce your claim, so treating a UM claim with the same seriousness as a third-party claim is essential.

Uninsured Drivers in Winston-Salem: The Local Picture

North Carolina has an estimated uninsured driver rate of 7-9% statewide, but that rate is not evenly distributed. Forsyth County sees higher concentrations of uninsured motorist incidents in specific corridors, driven by economic factors, demographics, and the practical reality that drivers who cannot afford insurance still need to drive to work.

For statewide context on uninsured motorist coverage, see our guide on UM/UIM coverage in North Carolina. You can also learn about how to file a UM/UIM claim and NC's contributory negligence rule.

The corridors with the highest uninsured driver activity in Winston-Salem include:

East Winston -- New Walkertown Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and connecting streets. This area sees both the highest uninsured driver rates and the highest hit-and-run rates in Forsyth County, as uninsured drivers are more likely to flee the scene.
Peters Creek Parkway -- The corridor between I-40 and the commercial and residential areas to the north carries heavy traffic with a mix of insured and uninsured drivers.
US-52 through downtown -- The road draws drivers from across the region, including those traveling from areas with higher uninsured rates.
Waughtown Street and South Main Street -- Southern corridors connecting to I-40 Business that serve lower-income neighborhoods with higher uninsured rates.

Understanding Your UM/UIM Coverage

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

UM coverage pays for your injuries and damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. This includes:

Drivers whose policy lapsed
Drivers who never purchased insurance
Hit-and-run drivers who cannot be identified (subject to the physical contact requirement)
Drivers with fraudulent or invalid insurance cards

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage

UIM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your damages. This is increasingly common in Winston-Salem as medical costs rise while many drivers carry only NC's minimum coverage of $50,000 per person.

Example: You suffer $120,000 in medical bills and other damages from a crash on US-52. The at-fault driver carries only $50,000 in coverage -- the NC minimum. Their insurance pays their $50,000 limit. Your UIM coverage can then pay up to your own UIM limit to bridge the gap.

Why NC Minimums Are Often Not Enough

NC requires minimum liability coverage of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident. But a serious crash on US-52 or I-40 can easily produce medical bills exceeding $100,000 for a single person. If the at-fault driver carries minimums, your UIM coverage is the only thing standing between you and a massive financial shortfall.

Consider carrying UM/UIM limits higher than the minimum. The cost difference between minimum and higher UM/UIM limits is often modest -- a few hundred dollars per year -- but the protection difference is enormous.

Where Uninsured Motorist Crashes Happen in Winston-Salem

East Winston Corridors

The New Walkertown Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridors in East Winston see the highest concentration of uninsured driver incidents in Forsyth County. These are heavily traveled corridors connecting residential neighborhoods to employment centers and commercial areas. The economic challenges in these neighborhoods mean that some drivers cannot maintain continuous insurance coverage, and policy lapses are common.

When an uninsured driver causes a crash in this area, they frequently flee the scene -- converting a standard accident into a hit and run. This is why UM coverage and the physical contact requirement are particularly relevant for East Winston crashes.

Peters Creek Parkway

Peters Creek Parkway between I-40 and the commercial areas to the north carries a heavy mix of traffic that includes drivers from across the economic spectrum. The Peters Creek/I-40 interchange is a frequent crash site, and when an uninsured driver is involved, the high speeds and the complexity of the interchange make these crashes more severe than surface-street incidents.

US-52 and I-40

Highway-speed crashes involving uninsured drivers on US-52 and I-40 produce the most severe injuries and the largest financial gaps between damages and available coverage. A significant rear-end collision on US-52 can generate medical bills well into six figures, and if the at-fault driver is uninsured, your UM coverage becomes the only recovery path.

Filing a UM/UIM Claim in Forsyth County

Step-by-Step Process

File a police report with WSPD at (336) 773-7700 or at 725 N. Cherry Street. The report documents the accident and the other driver's insurance status.
Notify your own insurance company that you need to file a UM or UIM claim. Do this promptly -- most policies require timely notification.
Provide the crash report showing the other driver was uninsured or underinsured.
Document your injuries with medical records from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, or your treating physician.
Keep all receipts for medical expenses, lost wages documentation, and any out-of-pocket costs related to the crash.
Do not accept a quick lowball offer from your own insurer. UM claims are negotiable, just like third-party claims.

What Your Insurer Will Do

Your insurance company will investigate the UM claim much like the other driver's insurer would investigate a third-party claim:

They will review the police report and may interview witnesses
They will request your medical records and may send you to an independent medical examination (IME)
They will evaluate your damages and make a settlement offer
They will look for contributory negligence to reduce or deny your claim

N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-279.21

Requires NC auto insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and establishes the framework for UM/UIM claims in North Carolina.

If Your Case Goes to Court

If your UM/UIM claim cannot be settled with your insurer, you may need to pursue it through the Forsyth County Hall of Justice at 200 N. Main Street, part of NC's 21st Judicial District. UM/UIM disputes can be resolved through:

Arbitration -- many NC UM policies include mandatory arbitration clauses
Mediation -- a voluntary process where a neutral mediator helps both sides reach agreement
Litigation -- filing a lawsuit against your own insurer in Forsyth County court

Most UM/UIM claims settle before reaching a courtroom, but knowing your options strengthens your negotiating position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of Forsyth County drivers are uninsured?

What is uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and do I have it?

What is the difference between UM and UIM coverage?

Can my own insurance company deny my UM claim in Winston-Salem?

Does filing a UM claim raise my insurance premiums?