VictimsGuide • Wyoming Coverage

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

UM and UIM sound similar, but Wyoming law treats them differently. Understanding that difference can determine whether substantial additional insurance is available after a serious crash.

The Wyoming Rule Wyoming law requires uninsured-motorist bodily-injury coverage to be included in qualifying automobile policies unless the named insured rejects it. Wyoming law does not similarly require insurers to provide underinsured-motorist coverage. UIM exists only if the insurance contract actually provides it.

Uninsured Motorist — UM

UM protects an insured when the legally responsible motorist has no qualifying liability insurance. Wyoming's statute also addresses certain situations in which the liability insurer becomes insolvent.

The named insured may reject UM coverage.

Underinsured Motorist — UIM

UIM addresses the different problem of a negligent driver who has insurance, but not enough insurance to compensate the injuries.

Wyoming does not statutorily require UIM coverage. Look for an actual UIM provision or endorsement in the policy.

“Full Coverage” Does Not Prove You Have UIM

Do not rely on labels such as “full coverage.” Read the declarations page and the insurance contract.

Look specifically for Underinsured Motorist, UIM, the applicable limits, and any endorsement describing how those benefits operate.

What Wyoming Law Requires for UM

Wyoming's uninsured-motorist statute applies to qualifying automobile liability policies issued for vehicles registered or principally garaged in Wyoming.

UM bodily-injury coverage is generally included unless the named insured rejects it. If coverage was previously rejected, it generally need not be added back to a renewal policy unless requested in writing.

A coverage investigation should therefore obtain not merely the current declarations page, but any UM rejection or selection documentation.

Do Not Assume UM and UIM Are the Same Coverage

A driver with no qualifying liability insurance presents a UM problem. A driver whose liability limits are insufficient presents a potential UIM problem.

In Wyoming, UIM is principally a contract question. The wording of the actual policy determines whether coverage exists and how an “underinsured motor vehicle” is defined.

You May Proceed Directly Against Your UM Insurer

Wyoming does not automatically require an insured to obtain a separate judgment against the uninsured motorist before pursuing UM benefits.

Fault, damages and coverage still must be established, but a UM claim is a first-party claim arising from the insured's own policy.

Multiple Policies Can Matter

Serious injuries should trigger a search for every potentially applicable first-party policy.

Your own policy
Other household automobile policies
Policies on other vehicles
Employer or commercial policies
Non-owned-auto coverage
Rideshare or platform coverage
Umbrella or excess insurance

Wyoming decisions have addressed multiple separately purchased UIM coverages. Whether benefits can be combined depends on the policy language and the governing Wyoming authorities.

Analyze UIM in the Correct Order

Find the negligent driver's liability limits.
Obtain actual coverage confirmation rather than relying only on an insurance card.
Find every potentially applicable UIM policy.
Review household, vehicle, employer, commercial and other coverage.
Read the policy definition of “underinsured motor vehicle.”
Identify UIM limits for each applicable policy.
Review offsets, other-insurance provisions and multiple-policy rules.
Check settlement and subrogation requirements before releasing anyone.

Before Settling With the Negligent Driver

Do not sign a liability release until first-party UM/UIM rights have been evaluated.

Wyoming law recognizes insurer subrogation rights following certain UM payments. Policy provisions may also impose notice, consent or cooperation requirements.

A settlement that looks complete from the liability side may interfere with a larger first-party insurance claim.

Wyoming UM/UIM Investigation Checklist

Complete declarations page
Full policy
All endorsements
UM limits
UM rejection documents
UIM limits
Definition of uninsured vehicle
Definition of underinsured vehicle
Other-insurance language
Anti-stacking language
Offsets
Consent-to-settle provisions
Subrogation provisions
Household policies
Employer/commercial policies
TNC/rideshare policies
Umbrella or excess coverage
Tortfeasor coverage confirmation

Leading Wyoming Decisions

Ramsour v. Grange Insurance Association Foundational Wyoming authority concerning uninsured-motorist protection and multiple policies.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Shrader Establishes important UM first-party principles, including direct litigation against the UM carrier.

Aaron v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. Addresses multiple separately purchased UIM policies and the treatment of the negligent driver's liability payment.

Broderick v. Dairyland Insurance Co. Confirms that Wyoming's UM statutes do not require insurers to provide UIM coverage.

Bergantino v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. Modern Wyoming authority applying the actual policy definition of an underinsured motor vehicle.