Why Winston-Salem Drivers Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Winston-Salem is a city of contrasts — a place where the historic charm of Old Salem meets the innovation of Wake Forest University's medical campus, where Hanes Mall draws shoppers from across the region and Business 40 (now Salem Parkway) carries thousands of commuters every day. It's also a city where the roads can be unpredictable. From the winding streets of West End to the high-speed corridors of US-421 and I-40 Business, Winston-Salem drivers face a diverse set of risks every time they get behind the wheel. One of the biggest risks? Sharing the road with drivers who don't have insurance.

The Uninsured Driver Problem in North Carolina

According to the Insurance Research Council, approximately 1 in 7 drivers in North Carolina is uninsured — that's roughly 14% of all motorists on the road. In Forsyth County, the rate may be even higher in certain areas. This means that every time you drive through downtown Winston-Salem, merge onto US-52, or navigate the Silas Creek Parkway interchange, there's a meaningful chance that the driver next to you doesn't have insurance.

North Carolina law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 30/60/25 (which increases to 50/100/50 starting in 2026), but enforcement is imperfect. Drivers let policies lapse, borrow uninsured vehicles, or simply choose to take the risk. When one of these drivers causes an accident, the person they hit is left holding the bag — unless they have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.

What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Actually Does

Uninsured motorist coverage is a part of your own auto insurance policy that protects you when the other driver can't. It comes in two forms:

• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): Covers your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when you're hit by an uninsured driver. This is the more critical of the two coverages.
• Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UIM): Kicks in when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits aren't high enough to cover your expenses. For example, if you have $100,000 in medical bills and the other driver only has $30,000 in liability coverage, your UIM coverage can help bridge the gap.

In North Carolina, UM/UIM coverage is automatically included in your policy at the same limits as your liability coverage, unless you specifically reject it in writing. However, many drivers carry only the state minimum, which may not be enough to cover a serious accident.

Why It Matters More in Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem has several factors that make uninsured motorist coverage particularly important for local drivers:

• High-traffic corridors: US-52, US-421, I-40 Business, and Hanes Mall Boulevard are consistently among the highest-accident roads in Forsyth County. More traffic means more accidents, and more accidents mean more chances of encountering an uninsured driver.
• Hit-and-run incidents: UM coverage also protects you in hit-and-run accidents, which are unfortunately common in urban areas. If someone sideswipes your car on Peters Creek Parkway and drives away, your UM coverage can help pay for your injuries.
• Contributory negligence: North Carolina's strict contributory negligence rule means that if you're even 1% at fault in an accident, you can't recover damages from the other driver's insurance. Your own UM/UIM coverage isn't subject to this rule, making it a critical safety net.
• Medical costs: With two major hospital systems in Winston-Salem (Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health), medical care is excellent but expensive. A serious accident can easily generate $50,000-$100,000 or more in medical bills. State minimum UM limits of $30,000 per person simply aren't enough.

How Much Coverage Should You Carry?

We recommend that Winston-Salem drivers carry UM/UIM limits that match their liability limits — and that those limits be at least 100/300/100. Here's why: if you're seriously injured by an uninsured driver, your UM coverage is the only thing standing between you and financial devastation. The difference in premium between state minimum UM limits and 100/300 limits is often surprisingly small — typically $50-$100 per six-month policy period.

For drivers with significant assets — a home, savings, retirement accounts — we also recommend pairing higher UM limits with an umbrella policy. An umbrella policy provides an additional $1 million or more in coverage and can extend your UM protection even further.

A Real-World Scenario

Consider this scenario: you're driving home from work on Silas Creek Parkway when an uninsured driver runs a red light and T-bones your vehicle. You suffer a broken collarbone, a concussion, and need six months of physical therapy. Your medical bills total $65,000, and you miss eight weeks of work, losing $12,000 in income.

Without UM coverage (or with only state minimum limits of $30,000), you'd be responsible for at least $47,000 out of pocket. With 100/300 UM limits, your policy would cover the full amount. The annual cost difference? About $100-$200. It's one of the best values in auto insurance.

Let's Review Your Coverage

At Blue Paper Co., we specialize in helping Winston-Salem and Forsyth County drivers build the right coverage package. We're located just 20 minutes away in High Point, and we're happy to review your current policy — whether it's with us or another carrier — to make sure you're properly protected. Call us at (336) 203-0000, text us, or schedule an appointment online. Your coverage review is always free, and there's never any pressure.