Uninsured motorists driving costs into the billions!

You might want to drive a lot more defensively the next time you get behind the wheel of your car, because your chances of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver are going up—way up.

And accidents involving uninsured drivers are likely to be more serious.

The average number of drivers on the road without insurance is a startling 13-percent nationwide. That number is even higher in Colorado and it is getting worse, costing us billions. 

One out of six of drivers don’t have auto insurance. For the drivers FOX31 Denver spoke with, that’s a frightening statistic. 

“It's upsetting for sure," said Mike, a driver who didn’t want his last name used. 

Joseph Gonzales agreed. “It's pretty scary," Gonzales said, as he was filling up his tank along South Broadway. "You never know if you're going to get hit or not and get hurt."

And every driver without insurance is costing Mike, Joseph, and all of us money. 

"It costs all of us for the people driving without insurance,” said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. 

Walker says the problem is getting worse in Colorado's down economy. 

“They put all of us at risk and we all pay more for insurance premiums,” Walker said. 

Nationwide drivers paid $10.8 billion more to cover those without insurance. 

"If you have to choose between rent, food and insurance ... it's becoming more and more difficult,” said Reginald Dobolek, who was sitting in his car with his wife at Alameda and Broadway in Denver. 

Even though it's against state law, more drivers are choosing to skip the car insurance. It’s a problem that is even worse in states with high illegal immigrant populations, like Colorado. 

23-year-old Francis Hernandez killed a five-year-old boy and two women at an Aurora Baskin Robbins in September, 2008. He was in Colorado illegally, and didn’t have auto insurance or a driver’s license. 

Statistics show uninsured drivers cause more serious accidents like that one. 

“We actually see those car crashes costing more,” said Walker. “That costs all of us more.” 

To protect yourself, make sure your insurance policy covers uninsured and under-insured motorists. 

"In Colorado it's an optional coverage,” said Walker. “Most people do carry it because they do know the threat of being in accident with somebody without insurance.” 

It'll cost you an extra $76 a year on the average Colorado auto insurance policy. 

You have to ask your insurance company to add it to your coverage because it is optional. 

But when you consider the tens of thousands in medical and repair bills you might be facing it is a small price to pay to protect yourself. 

Courtesy:  KDVR.com