Pennsylvania, Where Car Insurance Is Required

May 15, 2013 in best car insurance in Pennsylvania, bodily injury liability, car insurance, financial responsibility, full tort, insurance agent in Pennsylvania, limited tort, property damage liability

Car insurance is a requirement of all drivers in Pennsylvania.  Drivers have to purchase and keep up the payments on the policy with the insurance company or they notify the Department of Motor Vehicles immediately.  Pennsylvania law calls this “financial responsibility” on your vehicles.

Without insurance, you receive a minimum fine of $300.00.  The suspension of your vehicle registration also means losing yourdriver’s license for a minimum of three months.  You cannot drive, nor can you allow anyone to drive your vehicle while the registration is suspended.

When you buy car insurance, there are additional options that you can add to your basic coverage.  All drivers should check with an insurance agent in Pennsylvania, so the coverage is what you need.  The following are required coverage:

  • Medical Benefits – this coverage helps to pay any medical bills for you, your family, and any passenger covered in the policy.  The minimum required coverage is $5000, but higher limits are available.
  • Bodily Injury Liability – this coverage pays medical, rehabilitation expenses, damages you are liable for in an accident for injuries you caused to others.  The minimum is $15,000/$30,000.  This means there is $15,000 for injuries to one person, but $30,000 would be the maximum available coverage for one accident.
  • Property damage liability –If you have caused damage to another person’s property there is a minimum limit of $5000 coverage required.
  • Limited or Full Tort – Tort is a legal word that means a private or civil wrong or injury.  The state of Pennsylvania sends individuals that have purchased a motor vehicle and has registered them for license plates, a letter to the driver or drivers that apply for insurance for the automobiles.  It is your choice between Limited or Full Tort liability.

In case of an accident or injury, Full Tort coverage could save your families full legal rights in court.  If you choose, Limited Tort, it would save you money on your premiums, but if you or a passenger were in an accident that was determined to be your fault, you are limited in the sums collected unless the injuries are determined to be serious.  It is not very clear by laws what a serious injury is.  Drivers need to think about paying the higher premium for the Full Tort and not taking any chances.  Once selected you cannot change even at your six-month renewals.

The coverage is optional, but very important to consider for car insurance.  As each of us knows all Pennsylvania laws are very concerned for the drivers in the state.  There are still drivers with no coverage, limited coverage, or from states where coverage is not similar.  Your insurance agent can discuss all your options when you purchase the best car insurance in Pennsylvania.

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Pennsylvania, The True Cost Of Car Insurance

May 8, 2013 in Auto liability insurance, car insurance, car insurance in pennsylvania, liability insurance, Pa Car Insurance, proof of insurance, underinsured motorists, uninsured motorists

All Pennsylvania motorists are required to have liability insurance on their car, but the true cost of Pa car insurance is far higher than that monthly payment.  It is the Law and without insurance, you will lose the privilege to drive.  The Department of Motor Vehicles requires written proof of insurance at the time of registering your vehicle.  Auto liability insurance only covers any property damage or injuries that occur in an accident.

The person responsible for the accident is the person liable and who must pay all costs related to the accident.  This includes damage to property, vehicles, and injuries to the victims of the accident.  Every owner of an auto, truck, van, or motorcycle must have at the least, liability insurance to cover these expenses.  Otherwise, they cannot drive, or allow anyone else to drive, their vehicle.  Without insurance, Pennsylvania will suspend the owner’s registration and driving privileges.  Additionally, they cannot even allow anyone else to drive their uninsured vehicle.

You need to consider having enough car insurance, regardless of the Pennsylvania minimum requirements.  The minimum requirements do not cover many of the extra costs that can run into thousands of dollars.  For example, you need enough coverage to protect your own family, and passengers as well as your assets.

While the mandatory of liability insurance meets the Pennsylvania laws, other coverage options are available for an additional fee.  You should talk to your insurance agent about some of the following to determine if any would help to meet your needs.

  • Uninsured Motorist Coverage
  • Underinsured Motorist Coverage
  • Income Loss Protection
  • Extraordinary Medical Coverage

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Yes, unfortunately even with strong Pennsylvania laws, there are still drivers who have no insurance but continue to drive.  Adding this coverage to your policy will protect passengers including you and your family if you were in an accident.  This coverage does not protect against damage to property.

Income Loss Protection

This would include wages that are lost due to the injuries you sustain in an accident.  It also includes wages lost from long-term rehabilitation.

Extraordinary Medical Coverage

This coverage is vital.  It pays for extensive medical and rehabilitation expenses that exceed $100,000.  When multiple people sustain serious injuries in your vehicle, the medical expenses can easily exceed this limit.  While there is a maximum coverage of up to $1,000,000, not many accidents ever reach that amount.

There are other options, which you can add to your basic insurance policy.  Ask about any discounts, which you might be eligible to receive.  Discussing your budget will give you the information you need to make a wise decision about obtaining the best coverage for the least money.

However, keep in mind the true cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania is not having enough coverage to protect yourself from accidents, whether they are your fault or the other persons.  The best idea is to review all your options with your car insurance agent who knows what benefits will protect you in Pennsylvania.

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Pennsylvania Car Insurance – Tips To Save Money

April 30, 2013 in adequate insurance coverage, car insurance companies in Pennsylvania, car insurance in pennsylvania, full tort, liability insurance, limited tort, property damage, underinsured driver, uninsured driver, Vehicle liability insurance

When registering a vehicle, all Pennsylvania motorists are required to have liability insurance.  Vehicle liability insurance covers any property damage or injuries that have happened in an accident.  However, only having the required car insurance in Pennsylvania is not always the best tip to save you money.

Every owner of autos or motorcycles need insurance to protect themselves from claims made against them.  Which would be liability insurance of any accidents that may be their fault.  This should be for compensating any damage or injuries to the victim of the accident.

As an owner of a vehicle in PA when you are getting insurance, you should consider buying enough coverage for any damage you cause.  The cost of automobiles has risen over the years, so an individual needs enough coverage by insurance to take care of any injuries or damage done to the other party in the accident.  Mainly, this is to protect your own assets from being lost.

Losses occur when you do not have adequate insurance coverage.  The insurance agent will be able to help you with questions.  It is good for you to understand the insurance you need.  He or she will help you save money in different ways without eliminating the most important coverage.  Coverage can include each family member, but he or she can help you decide if individual policies can save you money

The laws of Pennsylvania give drivers a choice for additional coverage that fall under two added options called Limited Tort and Full Tort.  It is important to determine which is best for you, as you are unable to change the option once selected, even for annual renewals.  This coverage allows you to recover on all medical and property expenses.  However, Limited Tort does not include pain and suffering or other non-monetary damages in the recovery.

Full Tort is the form of insurance that maintains all the rights you have for family members under your policy, especially if you had an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.  All medical bills or out-of-pocket expenses are completely paid.  Additionally, you may seek financial compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other non-monetary losses.

Because so many accidents result in serious injuries, most people recommend that you have as much coverage as you can afford.  This is the only way to protect your assets from losses, and there is protection available since car insurance companies in Pennsylvania give you many options to select.

 

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Choosing Car Insurance in Pennsylvania

April 25, 2013 in car insurance companies in Pennsylvania, department of motor vehicles, full tort, limited tort, Pennsylvania Car Insurance

There are many car insurance companies in Pennsylvania that can be of help to you.  Choosing the best car insurance company in Pennsylvania can be as simple as asking your friends or family who they would recommend and why.  Although there are many online agencies, it can be nice to have an agent and company that are local to make it easier to call for questions.

If no one you know has a certain insurance company they can recommend, you can check the local newspaper or telephone book.  When you call to schedule an appointment, you can ask the agent what the best choices are for choosing the maximum coverage for the least amount of money.  Some agents represent more than one insurance company, and they will give you their recommendations based on your needs.  Pennsylvania car insurance is like many other decisions, it is easy to select the coverage for what you need and what you can afford.

In Pennsylvania, to drive legally you have to buy insurance on all vehicles you are responsible for and keep up all payments monthly to keep your policy up-to-date.  Under Pennsylvania law, this is to keep your financial responsibility for driving an automobile registered in the state.

When being stopped for a traffic violation and they discover you have no car insurance, you can face fines and expenses as follows:

×          A $300.00 fine

×          Impoundment of your vehicle

×          Suspension of your registration and your license for three months

×          Fees for restoration of license and registration

During suspension of your license, the Department of Motor vehicles does not permit you to drive another vehicle.  Moreover, during the suspension of the registration on your vehicle, no one can drive it even with a license.  The Department of Motor Vehicles does not allow it on the street until restoration of registration.  Therefore, you can clearly see that driving without car insurance in Pennsylvania has severe penalties.

Drivers must accept the financial responsibility of all vehicles they own.  This keeps everyone safer and reduces the personal expenses for everyone involved in an accident.  That said, what happens when someone local or from another state has an accident without car insurance?  Most people do not feel it is fair, because if the other driver is at fault and they have no insurance, it forces your car insurance to cover the damages.  That coverage is the basis for the options you choose when buying.  Moreover, make sure to discuss Limited tort and Full Tort options when buying car insurance in Pennsylvania.

 

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Pedestrian Hit By A Car In Pennsylvania, What Are Their Rights?

April 16, 2013 in car insurance in pennsylvania, insurance companies, Pa Car Insurance, Pennsylvania Car Insurance, Pennsylvania car insurance company, Pennsylvania car insurance laws

If a car in Pennsylvania has hit you, the first two questions you should ask are what are my rights?  Does their Pa car insurance pay my medical expenses?  While a lawyer will give you advice and even assistance to find the right medical treatment, knowing your rights can also help. First call 911, report the accident, and file a police report.  Whether injuries were slight or major, most insurance companies will not make any payment without a full incident report.

If you were a pedestrian, your injuries can be quite serious, including fractures, neck, head, and spinal cord injuries.  Significant injuries can result in lost wages.  Two important things you need to know to protect your rights are to obtain a complete medical evaluation and call an attorney.

Medical Evaluation

After any accident, you may not realize how serious your injuries are.  The first step is to receive an evaluation from a doctor. On-scene emergency care is essential, but equally critical is a full evaluation by a medical professional.  Sometimes your injuries are unclear until x-rays can reveal the extent of the injury.

You are highly urged not to settle with a Pennsylvania car insurance company after an accident, without an attorneys help. At the hospital, do not sign anything given to you by their agent.  Do not even make comments or allow a recording of interviews, without your own attorney present.

Attorney

In the best of times, it is difficult to understand Pennsylvania car insurance laws, especially “full tort” and “partial tort.”  When you have injuries, it is even more difficult. There are many highly expert personal injury lawyers.  They will even come to the hospital if you are unable to go to them.  Most do not charge a fee unless they win your case.

Let your attorney act to get the maximum in settlements, especially if you should need long-term care.  Whether assisting you in obtaining the additional medical treatment you need, dealing with complex insurance issues, or detailing your losses, they can control all facets of the personal injury process.

Life-changing injury can result from an auto or truck, which strikes a pedestrian.  Sometimes the person is unable to ever work or care for himself or herself. Chronic pain from nerve damage can make it difficult to sit or stand.  Working with someone who understands the complexity of car insurance in Pennsylvania and these medical issues is the best way to protect your rights.

 

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