Three Things Pennsylvania Drivers Can Do to Protect Themselves in a Car Accident

There are three simple things Pennsylvania drivers should do to protect themselves in the future. First, make sure you have underinsured coverage (UIM) on your auto policy. Pennsylvania law requires a minimum of 15,000 of bodily injury coverage to make a car legal. Bodily injury insurance is the coverage people purchase to help pay for the injuries they may cause someone else. Most people only purchase the minimum amount required by law. However, if you are seriously injured in a car accident by a driver who purchased the minimum coverage you may be in serious trouble. Experienced lawyers call this situation an "insurance tragedy." There are a few ways to protect yourself from becoming the victim of an insurance tragedy.

Make sure you purchase as much underinsured coverage as you can afford. Look at it this way. You can't control how much coverage other people purchase but you can control how much coverage you buy to protect yourself and your family. You may need it one day!

Second, make sure you purchase Uninsured coverage. Uninsured coverage will protect you if you are injured by someone who is driving without the minimum coverage. This situation is not as common as the driver with minimum coverage but it does happen. Take control of your future by ensuring that you have adequate uninsured coverage.

Third, purchase full tort coverage rather than limited tort coverage. Pennsylvania is a "Tort Threshold" state. In Pennsylvania, your right to sue for pain and suffering is controlled by the tort option you choose when you purchase coverage. There are two options you can choose. The first is limited tort. Simply put, limited tort coverage is a limited right to sue for pain and suffering. It takes the control out of your hands and puts it in the hands of a jury. If you are limited tort, a jury may have to decide how serious your injuries are and whether you are injured enough to collect for pain and suffering. The second option is full tort which allows you to retain your right to sue for pain and suffering. Full tort is by far the better choice.

Pennsylvania motor vehicle drivers have the opportunity to protect themselves and control their futures by insuring themselves against the poor choices of other people. Don't become an insurance tragedy. Purchase as much underinsured, uninsured coverage as you can afford and opt for the full-tort option. It may cost a little more now but it will look like a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of being injured by someone with no insurance or very low limits.