Auto Insurance Coverage in Pennsylvania
In 2022, the Keystone State reported 115,938 crashes, resulting in 67,012 people injured. Have you been injured in an automobile collision in Pennsylvania? Did your vehicle also sustain damage? If so, you deserve to be compensated for your damages, including those losses that affect your emotional well-being.
If you recently experienced a crash in the Commonwealth, our Harrisburg personal injury attorney is here to assist you in filing your claim.
How Will I Pay for My Medical Expenses and Lost Wages?
If you are injured in an accident in Pennsylvania, you will want a claim through your own insurance provider. This is known as a first party claim since you are the insured. Even if the other driver is at fault for the crash, you will still file a claim with your auto insurance company.
Under Pennsylvania law, motorists are required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. PIP provides the following coverage:
- $5,000-$100,000 in medical benefits
- 80% of your gross wages, subject to policy limits
- Payment of reasonable and necessary funeral expenses
- Accidental death benefits to the primary beneficiary of a person who dies from accident-related injuries if death occurs within 24 months of the event
- Extraordinary Medical Benefits: Offers up to $1 million in medical benefits
Pennsylvania is a “Choice No-Fault” State
75 Pa. C.S. §1928 offers two types of insurance coverage: Limited tort coverage and full tort coverage. Insurance companies must offer all Pennsylvania motorists these two different insurance options. Let us go over the differences in coverage.
Full Tort Coverage
Pennsylvania insurance companies’ default to full tort policies, which will allow you to pursue legal action after a crash. In having this type of coverage, you will be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Full Tort insurance has higher premiums, so many drivers may choose to waive this coverage.
Limited Tort Coverage
If you select limited tort coverage, you will be eligible to recover compensation for economic damages, such as lost wages, medical expenses, and vehicle repairs. You will be unable to recover compensation for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses unless you suffer a serious injury or meet one of the exceptions to the limited tort coverage.
Exceptions to Limited Tort Coverage
Under Pennsylvania law, if you meet one of these exceptions, you will qualify for full tort coverage:
- If you were a pedestrian or a cyclist who was hit by a vehicle
- If you were a passenger in a commercial vehicle
- If you were a passenger on a motorcycle
- If the at-fault driver was convicted of a DUI
- If the at-fault driver was uninsured
- If the at-fault driver was driving a vehicle registered out-of-state
A Harrisburg personal injury attorney can review the circumstances behind your accident to see if you meet one of the exceptions to qualify for full tort coverage. At Mette Attorneys at Law, our main concern is getting you the compensation you need. Our personal injury attorney has decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies and is ready to work on your behalf.
How Will I Pay if I Am Found Liable?
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that drivers carry the following minimum liability insurance:
Bodily Injury Liability
- $15,000 for bodily injury claims per person
- $30,000 for bodily injury claims per accident
Property Damage Liability
- $5,000 in property damage per accident.
These are minimum limits, so they may not be sufficient if you are found liable in a severe crash. Bodily injury liability will cover each injured person’s medical expenses and rehabilitative therapies up to the coverage amounts that you purchase. Your property damage liability will cover the cost of repairing another person’s vehicle or real property.
Contact Our Harrisburg Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you have fallen victim to a crash, our Harrisburg personal injury attorney is dedicated to obtaining the damages that are rightfully owed to you. If you have any questions about an accident claim, do not hesitate to contact our office. To schedule your consultation, contact us online or by phone.