CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE BENEFITS LAWYER – MN INJURY ATTORNEYS
What does insurance cover after a car accident? Basically, it depends on what you purchased, but there are some minimum requirements in Minnesota.
Car accidents occur in Minnesota every day. There are many cars on the road and people make mistakes. Automobile crashes are inevitable. But what exactly is in your auto insurance? Most people don’t find out what’s in their auto insurance policy until they are injured in a an auto accident and call an attorney. Our top rated MN car insurance lawyers answer people’s insurance questions every day.
Below is a summary of AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS prepared by our experienced car insurance lawyers.
Collision Coverage (optional coverage you must ask for):
Collision coverage pays to fix or replace your vehicle (the property damage) if it is damaged in an accident. This insurance must be offered to you, but it is your option to buy it or not. With collision coverage, your car will be repaired or replaced even if the accident was your fault. Your insurance company must pay the cost to repair your vehicle after a crash, or pay the value of the vehicle (“totaling the vehicle”), whichever is less. You only have to pay your deductible. (If the accident was the other driver’s fault, your insurance will get reimbursed from the other driver’s insurance. They will then repay you your deductible at the same time.)
Our Minnesota car insurance lawyers frequently answer questions about car damage and help our clients through this process. See also How to get paid for the damage to my car.
LIABILITY COVERAGE (standard required coverage in every Minnesota auto policy):
This type of auto insurance coverage applies if you are in a car accident and the accident is YOUR FAULT. Your liability coverage pays for the following – but the amount of coverage depends on what you purchase:
Property damage to the other vehicle:
Property damage covers damage you cause to the other car. Your automobile insurance company will pay to fix or replace that car. However, this is limited to your policy limits for property damage. Unfortunately, some insurance companies will sell you as little as $10,000 in property damage coverage. This is not nearly enough even for a minor accident. You should look at this carefully.
Bodily Injury (“BI”):
If you injure someone in a car accident, your insurance will pay necessary compensation up to your policy limits.
Minnesota law requires a minimum of $30,000 per person/$60,000 insurance per occurrence. However, you should consider increasing this. More coverage better protects your assets in case you cause a car accident that seriously injures someone.
There is also another reason to purchase more liability coverage. You will then usually get more UM/UIM coverage (see below). This better protects you if you are the victim of a serious car accident. Our MN auto accident insurance lawyers handle liability cases every day. We are willing to answer your specific questions.
No-Fault Benefits (standard required coverage in every Minnesota auto policy)
Also referred to as “PIP” benefits: Minnesota law requires your auto insurance policy to pay your initial medical expenses if you are injured in a car accident. There is also reimbursement of lost income. Your insurance must pay up to $20,000 medical and $20,000 income. You are entitled to these benefits REGARDLESS OF WHO IS AT FAULT (hence the name “No-Fault” benefits). Your initial medical bills are paid by your auto insurance, even if the other driver was at fault.
No-Fault is a confusing concept for many people. However, our top Minnesota auto accident insurance lawyers explain no-fault issues to our clients every day. Some insurance companies are difficult to deal with regarding No-Fault benefits.
Our car crash lawyers have experience dealing with No-Fault adjusters from American Family, Farmers Insurance, Progressive Insurance, State Farm, Geico, etc. See also How To Get Medical Bills paid.
Uninsured Motorist Benefits (standard required coverage in every Minnesota auto policy)
Also referred to as “UM” coverage: UM coverage applies when the other driver is at fault but is UNINSURED. It also applies if you are struck by a hit & run vehicle. In those cases, your car insurance will pay the compensation the other driver should have paid. You can receive compensation for your injuries up to your policy limit.
In other words, your auto insurance company will act as if it is insuring the other driver. (The uninsured driver shouldn’t get away Scot-free, however. It is a crime to drive without insurance so the other driver may be prosecuted. Plus, your insurance company can sue the other driver to get its money back.) The amount of coverage you have available for uninsured motorist benefits is usually the same as what you purchase for liability benefits. Our best car accident insurance lawyers pursue these claims for our clients frequently.
Underinsured Motorist Benefits (standard required coverage in every Minnesota auto policy)
Also referred to as “UIM” coverage: UIM coverage applies when the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have enough liability insurance. In those cases, you are entitled to UNDERINSURED MOTORIST BENEFITS from your auto insurance company. Your insurance company will pay additional compensation, up to your insurance limits for UIM coverage.
Like UM coverage, the amount of UIM coverage you have is usually the same as what you purchase for liability benefits. You have to settle your case with the other driver before you can get underinsured motorist coverage. You must also give your insurance company the required notices. Our car accident insurance lawyers know what is required by MN law and have helped hundreds of people with this type of claim.
Call us for a Free Initial Consultation with an attorney if you have been in a auto accident and would like more information about your insurance coverage. Our personal injury lawyers have more than 25 years’ experience helping hundreds of people in similar situations.
Pam Rochlin was formerly a partner at Meshbesher & Spence and president of the Minnesota Women Lawyers organization. We provide big firm experience and small firm attention. Our auto accident lawyers handle cases in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and throughout Minnesota.