Pennsylvania Auto Insurance Law

Full Tort / Limited Tort - The Dangers of Limiting Your Rights

When purchasing auto insurance, you have the option to select either full tort or limited tort. While limited tort is described by insurance agents as being more attractive than full tort in that it is less expensive, it is a mistake to select limited tort. The savings gained by selecting limited tort are minimal. If you or your family are injured due to the negligence of another driver, by selecting limited tort you have given away most of your rates, to save , at the most, 15% of your overall insurance costs. In settling for limited tort you give up your right to sue unless you have what is termed a "serious injury." A serious injury has been defined by Pennsylvania courts as only one of three things: death, serious permanent disfigurement or a serious impairment of a body function

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Medical Payments

In the event you are in an automobile accident, you should know that your auto insurance company is required by law you pay your medical bills up to the amount of your selected coverage. Medical bill coverage in Pennsylvania is mandatory and "No Fault." This means that even if your injuries were caused by someone else, your own insurance company will pay for your medical bills. Every person purchasing auto insurance in Pennsylvania must purchase at least $5000.00 in medical bill coverage.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Another optional coverage is uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage is critical to protect you and your family and should be selected by anyone purchasing auto insurance.

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you in the event that you are hit and injured by a driver who has no insurance. Unfortunately, and especially in major metropolitan areas there are many drivers without insurance. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage you will be able to make a claim with your own insurance company for the benefits you justly deserve.

Underinsured motorist coverage is also a very important coverage. Underinsurance benefits protect you in the event you are struck and injured by an underinsured driver. For example, a drunk driver goes through a red light and hits your vehicle, injuring both you and your spouse. As a result, each of you are badly injured and are out of work for six months. You have extensive medical bills, wage loss, and permanent injuries which will bring with them years of pain and suffering. Should the drunk driver have only the state-minimum of $15,000, no matter what expenses and problems you have suffered.

However, if you purchased underinsured motorist benefits, you can protect yourself from this possibility. As in the uninsured circumstance described above, you will be able to make a claim with your own insurance company for the benefits you deserve.

Finally, among the most effective coverage options for Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Insurance is "Stacking." Stacking is the ability to add together the coverages for UM benefits or UIM coverage of $100,000, with stacking, you would multiply your UM or UIM limits times two (the number of cars on the policy), so that your limits would be $200,000. Most insurance carriers charge only a minimum premium increase for this dramatic rise in coverage.

So remember, when purchasing auto insurance, it's very important to purchase uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. Our recommendation is that when buying your insurance you must fully protect yourself and your family.