Collision vs. Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Alberta

In Alberta, collision coverage and uninsured-motorist coverage answer different parts of an automobile loss. Collision coverage is optional physical-damage coverage for the insured automobile. The uninsured-motorist section of the standard owner’s policy addresses compensatory damages for bodily injury or death caused by an uninsured or qualifying unidentified automobile. SEF 44 Family Protection Coverage can sit on top of that injury framework. Importantly, the current Alberta SEF 44 can apply not only to an underinsured driver, but also to an uninsured or unidentified automobile, subject to its own definitions, offsets and conditions. Alberta requires basic third-party liability and accident-benefit coverage, but collision coverage is optional.