If you’re trying to find the best insurance coverage for your car or to simply understand the terms in researching the types of coverages available, here is some basic information on the policies offered in Massachusetts.
Bodily Injury to Others
This type of coverage protects you if someone else gets injured because of your negligence behind the wheel or if another operator was carelessly driving your car. If your policy’s liability limits are the minimum coverage in Massachusetts of $20,000 for every injured individuals and $40,000 for every accident, your insurance provider will not pay one cent over $20,000 for each injured person and $40,000 for a single accident. If the injuries and damages from an accident exceed these figures, you may be found personally liable for additional bills. You can protect yourself from this type of situation by buying more coverage.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This option can provide up to $8,000 medical bills or lost wages from your job. Your provider will pay expenses of medical treatment for any person who was hurt in an accident while in your car. This coverage does not take into account who was at fault. A pedestrian with this coverage who is hit by a car could also benefit from PIP. However, this coverage does not provide for those who are hurt while riding a motorcycle.
Property Damage Liability
This covers payments for damage to another person’s property that was a result of negligent or reckless driving. Massachusetts has a minimum requirement for this type of coverage set at $5,000, which may not cover repairs to a car or a house, for example. You are able to buy more PDL coverage and it is typically affordable.
Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
UM plans protect you in the event you are hurt by a negligent driver who was either unknown or did not carry insurance. UIM coverage protects you if a negligent or reckless driver has insufficient insurance and can’t cover your expenses from the accident.
Medical Payment Coverage
This option pays for expenses directly stemming from an accident, such as medical bills and funeral arrangements. Limits of $5,000 are available and can cover you, your family, and others who are in your car at the time of the crash. Motorcyclists are encouraged to purchase this coverage as the PIP option is unavailable.
Comprehensive
It helps to have this option if your car is damaged by anything other than a car accident, such as a fire, fallen trees, thefts, or acts of vandalism. Deductibles are common with this option, so a $50 deductible would mean that you pay $50 towards the damage and your insurance provider would cover the rest.
Collision
With this option, your insurance provider will pay for any damage to your car as a result of a crash. Deductibles are also common with this type of coverage.
When to Contact a Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else’s recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.
Contact a Massachusetts injury lawyer with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options. Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases. Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.
And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
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