When it comes to automobile insurance, do not count on the person who caused the accident to have ample liability insurance to cover the totality of your injuries. In many states, the minimum liability insurance required by state law is absurdly low. For instance, a driver in Pennsylvania is only required to carry $15,000.00 in liability insurance in order to have the pleasure of driving his vehicle. $15,000.00 in compensation for what may bea lifetimeof pain and suffering is a slap in the face to the injured party.
When an insurance company is trying to settle a case on behalf of a Defendant, itis their job to get the Plaintiff to sign a release which will not allow you to go after the Defendant outside of the insurance policy. And even if you do file a law suit and get a judgment in excess of the small liability coverage, in most cases, you’ll never see a dime because most individuals don’t have any assets to satisfy such a judgment.
This is why it is imperative that you take the initiative to protect yourself with uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage on your own automobile insurance policy. With this type of protection, if you suffer serious injuries in an accident with a driver who is uninsured or has minimal liability coverage, you can assert a claim against your own insurance policy to make up the difference. You will see an increase in your insurance premium, but you will have peace of mind knowing you have adequately protected yourself and your family against those who take advantage of the minimum liability policies to save a few pennies.
When it comes to protecting yourself, do not count on the consideration of others!
THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE LAW AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY
