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When you are buying auto insurance in Pennsylvania, you have the choice of a full tort or limited tort policy. While the cheaper limited tort coverage may seem attractive, it is important to understand that this decision can significantly impact your rights in the aftermath of a car accident. At Solnick Lawyers, our seasoned personal injury team can advise you on your right to compensation after a car accident and how it is affected by the insurance policies of the drivers involved in the accident, including your own. In this blog, we will delve into the details and guide you through making informed decisions that not only suit your needs but also safeguard your rights on the road.
Before we explore the nuances of the Full Tort and Limited Tort options, it’s important to understand the mandatory minimum auto insurance requirements imposed by the State of Pennsylvania. The minimum auto insurance requirements in Pennsylvania are as follows:
Pennsylvania mandates a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, or BIL, coverage. This coverage is designed to pay damages to others if you are found to be at fault in an accident that causes injury to others. This coverage will pay a maximum of $15,000 to any one person injured in an accident, with total payouts to all injured people injured in an accident capped at $30,000. Of course, it would almost always be advisable to carry larger amounts of BIL coverage.
A minimum of $5,000 in PDL coverage is mandatory. This coverage helps pay for damages to another person’s property, such as their vehicle or other structures, if you are responsible for an accident.
Pennsylvania also requires drivers to carry PIP benefits, also known as First Party Benefits. These include medical benefits, income loss benefits, accidental death benefits, funeral benefits, and extraordinary medical benefits. Most of these different coverages are optional, but Pennsylvania law requires minimum coverage of $5,000 in medical benefits to pay for accident-related medical treatment, but it is generally advisable to carry a higher amount of coverage.
These mandatory minimum coverages, including PIP benefits, form the foundation of your auto insurance coverage, providing a baseline level of protection to which all Pennsylvania drivers must adhere. Now that we’ve covered the basic minimum requirements, let’s explore the implications of choosing between Full Tort and Limited Tort coverage, and how this decision can influence your rights and compensation after a road accident.
When it comes to auto insurance in Pennsylvania, drivers have a unique choice to make – Full Tort or Limited Tort. This decision influences your right and ability to seek compensation for pain and suffering in the aftermath of an accident. Let’s break down the options:
Choosing the Full Tort option provides you with full rights to pursue compensation for pain, suffering, and other non-monetary damages after an accident, regardless of the severity of your injuries. While this choice may result in slightly higher premiums, it affords you the freedom to seek full legal recourse for all of your damages from an at-fault driver if you’re injured in a collision.
On the other hand, choosing the Limited Tort option will give you slightly lower insurance premiums but potentially at a very high cost if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident. Under the Limited Tort option, you limit your ability to seek compensation for pain and suffering after a car accident unless the injuries meet the “serious injury” threshold as defined by Pennsylvania law. Serious injuries are defined to include injuries which can be objectively measured through a diagnostic test and that cause a significant impairment of bodily function. While there are various types of injuries which qualify as “serious,” the most obvious examples include loss of a limb, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), permanent and serious scarring or disfigurement, and other injuries which require invasive treatment such as injections and surgeries.
Making the choice between the Full Tort and Limited Tort options requires careful consideration of your personal circumstances and risk tolerance. Here are some factors to weigh:
Full Tort often comes with slightly higher premiums, while Limited Tort may offer cost savings. Evaluate your budget and assess how premium differences align with your finances. In reality, the cost difference between these two options is usually fairly minimal when compared to the rights you are giving up by selecting the Limited Tort option.
Consider your risk tolerance and how much legal protection you want in the aftermath of an accident. The Limited Tort option prioritizes minimal upfront savings but significantly restricts your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and damages after a car accident, something which can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. The Full Tort option gives you much more flexibility and freedom to receive compensation for all of the physical injuries and emotional turmoil caused by your car accident. While you may elect to save a few dollars in premiums by electing the Limited Tort option, many people who select this option are very disappointed when they try to pursue a claim for injuries following a motor vehicle accident.
After experiencing a car accident, it’s advisable to consult with a Pennsylvania car accident attorney like Solnick Lawyers. An experienced attorney can provide personalized guidance about your right to compensation based on the specific details of your accident, your injuries, and the insurance coverage carried by you and other drivers involved in the accident. If you have been involved in a car accident, you deserve to be fully and fairly compensated under the terms of your insurance. Solnick Lawyers is accustomed to dealing with insurance companies that typically try to underpay on claims and can help get you the compensation you deserve.
Solnick Lawyers has been representing car accident victims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years. We are not intimidated by the tactics of aggressive corporations, insurance companies, or government agencies. We face them day after day in negotiations and courtrooms to secure justice for our clients, and we will do the same for you. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. Solnick Lawyers is on your side.
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