There are many risks associated with driving and anytime you get into a car, there's always a chance you'll be involved in a car accident. Even if you diligently follow all safe driving practices, it's possible for another driver to act negligently and cause an accident.
If everyone in the Philadelphia area purchased the maximum allowable auto insurance coverage, this wouldn't be a big problem. Your damages would most likely be taken care of by the negligent driver's policy. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.
A recent study compiled by state insurance departments ranks Pennsylvania 20 th in the nation in terms of auto insurance requirements and driver compliance with these laws. This ranking isn't horrible - it places Pennsylvania as average in this regard - but it also means that there is a decent chance that the at-fault driver won't have sufficient insurance coverage to pay for all of your medical expenses, rehab, lost wages, and property damage.
Pennsylvania law requires all drivers to carry the following minimum coverages as part of their auto insurance policy:
- $15,000 per person in bodily injury coverage
- $30,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage
- $5,000 per accident in property damage coverage
These figures are significantly lower than the minimum requirements for some other states, and it's likely that your damages will be higher than these minimum coverages if the car accident is very serious. In addition, Pennsylvania drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which covers medical expenses for car accident injuries regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
The report also estimates that about 6.5% of Pennsylvania drivers don't have any insurance. While this figure is somewhat alarming, it's also lower than the percentage of uninsured drivers in many other states (over 25% of Oklahoma drivers are uninsured).
If you're injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you'll need the help of an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who can help you pursue compensation for your damages in other ways. Our attorneys at Golomb Legal, P.C. have more than three decades of experience handling these difficult cases, and we'll fight aggressively to ensure your rights are protected every step of the way.
To learn more about how we can assist you, give us a call at (215) 278-4449.