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SALT LAKE CITY — Driving can be a risky adventure for anyone, anywhere, but analysts from WalletHub.com say a crash can be especially financially damaging in a number of states.
Utah, however, is not one of them. WalletHub ranks Utah sixth in the nation when it comes to least risky states for a driver's financial impact.
"Utah has higher-than-average liability requirements," said Jill Gonzalez of WalletHub.
Utah requires insurers to cover $25,000 to $65,000 for bodily injuries; only Maine and Alaska have a higher requirement. Utah is also one of 13 states requiring drivers to have personal injury protection.
"Medical and funeral expenses of the insured, others in the vehicle at the time of the loss and pedestrian struck by its vehicle," Gonzalez said.
Gonzales said it varies from state to state, but personal injury protection can cover lost wages and expenses like transportation to doctor visits.
In Utah, it will even cover acupuncture, according to Gonzalez.
Here's another big factor making Utah less risky: WalletHub says less than 6 percent of drivers here are driving without insurance. Compare that to Florida and Oklahoma where it's estimated nearly one in four drivers are breaking the law by not having insurance.
Gonzalez said the bare insurance requirements in those states might be too low.
"People are wondering why they need insurance at all," she said. "It's the most likely they will have to pay for most of their expenses anyway."
