It goes without saying that operating a motor vehicle in New Jersey is dangerous and even the best most attentive drivers are victims of car accidents. For this reason, you should make sure you have good car insurance to protect everyone involved especially yourself and your loved ones.
What Does Car Insurance Cover?
Anytime a new client comes in after a motor vehicle accident I always request a copy of their car insurance declaration page and the short list of things I look for are:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Underinsured/Uninsured (UIM/UM) motorist coverage
- Bodily Injury coverage
- Limited Tort (verbal) threshold
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
I’m a personal injury attorney and I help the injured. First and foremost I want to make sure they are receiving medical treatment for their injuries. When one is hurt in a car crash the treatment goes through their own car insurance under the PIP coverage, regardless of fault. The standard coverage is $250,000.00.
This coverage is not just for the driver. It may provide coverage for the driver’s family members as well their passengers. For PIP coverage the order goes like this:
- Your own insurance-If you are in a car accident and have your own auto insurance then your auto’s PIP is you first in line primary insurance for your treatment even if you are a passenger in another’s vehicle. (exceptions are if you select your health insurance as primary, or you’re operating a vehicle as a ride share or for work at the time of the crash)
- An immediate family member you live with-If you don’t have a car at the time you’re in a car crash, then the car insurance of a family member you live with would cover the medical treatment even if their car and insurance had nothing to do with the accident. A family member could be a spouse, parent, sibling or even a grandparent.
- Host Vehicle-if neither of the first two apply then the vehicle you are a passenger in would cover your medical treatment.
- New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (NJPLIGA)-Lastly if there simply is no insurance coverage you then may be eligible for this safety net which covers certain expenses arising out of a car crash. A notice of intent to make a claim must be filed within 180 days of the accident.
Underinsured/Uninsured (UIM/UM) Motorist Coverage
This is coverage for you and your passengers’ personal injury if the at fault driver has no insurance or inadequate insurance to cover your injuries. Despite New Jersey raising the minimum requirements for bodily injury coverage, too many are still operating a vehicle uninsured or many qualify for Medicaid dollar-a-day policies which provide no bodily injury protection for you and your passengers. A situation where the at fault vehicle’s identity is unknown would also fall under this coverage. Under these situations your own auto insurance would cover you and your passenger’s bodily injuries.
Bodily Injury Coverage
As we were just discussing, this is protection in case you cause the accident and others involved are injured. This coverage would provide protection for everyone involved in the accident who were not more than 50% at fault. This includes all passengers in your own vehicle as well.
Limited Tort (verbal) Threshold
All New Jersey drivers are required to choose between the verbal or non-verbal threshold. Most choose the verbal without fully understanding the implications because their insurance premiums will be lower. The threshold is a limitation on your right to sue the at fault driver for your injuries. There are many exceptions, however, and a seasoned personal injury lawyer knows how to navigate the verbal. Some common exceptions are the at fault is a commercial vehicle or our client unfortunately has suffered a permanent injury which vaults the threshold. Regardless, the verbal threshold which quite literally is legislation to protect insurance companies is something my office handles on a daily basis.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael S. Williams if You or Somebody You Know Have Been Injured in a Car Crash
All New Jersey residents who are injured or know someone injured in a car accident please contact the lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael S. Williams. Call us today at 732-351-2800 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. With offices conveniently located in Tinton Falls and New Brunswick, New Jersey we serve clients in Monmouth and Middlesex County and throughout the state.
