[astura]

>Why is uninsured a separate category from insured driver insurance?

Because if another driver hits you and that driver was insured to cover all the damages they caused then their policy would cover you and you'd never have to make a claim on your own policy.

There's a lot of different types of insurance you can buy:

Liability - this is mandatory. Covers damages paid to other people caused by you.

Everything else is, typically optional.

Collision - Covers damages to your car paid to you caused by you.

Comprehensive - Covers "act of God" situations paid to you like tree falling on you car, hail damage.

Uninsured/underinsured coverage - Covers damages paid to you caused by other people who weren't carrying enough insurance to fully cover the loss.